FEATURE ON CNC LATHES AND TURNING CENTRES

Ward CNC reveals recent lathe deliveries

TW Ward CNC Machinery is celebrating the completion of several recent projects. For instance, a Hyundai-Wia L300LMC CNC turning centre has just arrived safely at the premises of a valued customer. This powerful and versatile machine marks a significant upgrade in the customer’s production capabilities and reinforces its commitment to investing in high-performance machining solutions.

The Hyundai-Wia L300LMC is a robust, heavy-duty CNC lathe designed for demanding turning applications. It comes fully equipped with features that include a C axis and driven tooling for complex machining operations, as well as hardened and ground box guideways for increased rigidity and longevity. Further features providing benefits to customers include a high-speed servo turret to boost productivity and reduce cycle times, and a large 15” chuck for handling sizeable workpieces.

According to Ward CNC, the machine is suited to customers requiring a dependable solution for medium to heavy-duty turning work across industries such as automotive, oil and gas, aerospace, and general engineering. Following delivery and full mechanical installation by Ward CNC’s experienced engineering team, the next step will be applications training on the machine’s Siemens control system.

Another recent project saw Ward CNC successfully deliver and install two brand-new CNC lathes, followed by dedicated applications training for a smooth and productive transition. The machines delivered were a Hyundai-Wia HD2200C box-guideway CNC lathe built for durability and precision, and a Takisawa NEX108 compact, linear-guideway CNC lathe for high-speed, high-accuracy work.

The  Hyundai-Wia HD2200C offers a 10” chuck, 380 mm maximum turning diameter, 500 mm maximum turning length, 3500 rpm spindle, 12-station turret and FANUC control.

More information www.wardcnc.com

Precision at its strongest with WFL M70 MillTurn

The new M70 MillTurn, the latest addition to the WFL product family, is suitable for applications which require both productivity and precision. It offers working lengths up to 8000 mm and a swing diameter up to 850 mm. In addition, WFL says the new M70 MillTurn offers optimal stability and geometry for precise, reliable machining thanks to high pull-in forces at the tool interface, as well as a range of additional options for productive deep-hole drilling processes and special technologies. With the capability to machine workpieces weighing up to 5000 kg, the MillTurn is suited to heavy-duty applications.

The M70 MillTurn features the familiar, reliable disc tool magazine or chain magazine offering up to 200 tool stations and capacity for tools weighing up to 35 kg with a maximum length of 900 mm. In addition to automatic tool changes, the set-up process can also take place in parallel to the machining time, which allows the magazine to be tooled for different orders without any loss of time. Two magazine variants are available for heavy special tools weighing up to 200 kg each.

According to WFL, the M70 also features reliable main and milling spindle drives, delivering precision and advantageous versatility for different customer needs.

Specially developed tools which have been designed to work seamlessly with the MillTurn enable the precision machining of complex workpieces. As hard to access machining areas often require the use of long special tools, the use of robust prismatic clamp holders means that boring bars, solid drills and angular heads can be attached to the turning-boring-milling unit in a highly stable manner.

More information www.wfl.at

Okuma plans numerous premieres at EMO 2025

With 960 m² of efficiency and precision, Okuma Europe says it will transform EMO 2025 (Hanover, Germany, 22-26 September) into a showroom with live machining demonstrations that include European and world premieres.

Okuma customers will already be familiar with the LB4000 EX III horizontal lathe, but they will now have the opportunity to experience its full configuration versatility for the first time at EMO 2025. During the trade fair, the machine will be exhibited with milling tools, an additional Y axis and an optional sub-spindle. The latter enables automatic workpiece transfer and complete machining within one machine.

Among the 13 machines that Okuma will present at EMO are several enhanced classics, each demonstrating its advantages in any production environment. These include the Multus U3000 multi-tasking machine, which can perform complex machining operations with precision. This is made possible by flexible five-axis machining on the main and sub-spindles, a large workspace, and a tool magazine that accommodates up to 120 tools. A second turret also reduces cycle times and increases productivity.

Various processes will be demonstrated live on the machine at the booth, including friction stir welding. This technology enables the seamless joining of components, increasing flexibility and productivity by eliminating the need for external processes.

Efficient automation is also a key factor in the success of one of Okuma’s best sellers. The company says its LB3000 EX III is considered one of the most advanced horizontal lathes for the precise machining of individual parts and small to medium-sized batches. The machine’s built-in Armroid automation solution, with an extended gripping range, boosts its productivity even further.

More information https://promo.okuma.eu/emo/

EMAG VL lathes in the Penn production chain

The increasing complexity of requirements in metal processing and international cost pressure pose particular challenges for manufacturing companies in high-wage countries. Austrian company Penn GmbH has established itself as an internationally active metal processor through a high level of vertical integration and consistent automation. Vertical turning machines from EMAG’s VL series, which have been in use at Penn for over a decade and have now grown to 43 spindles, play a key role in the production chain.

A milestone in the company’s history was the investment in a Hatebur forging plant at the Stratzdorf site in 2007, which produces rotationally symmetrical forgings at a rate of up to 70 components per minute. This corresponds to an annual volume of up to 10 million forged parts.

Such a high production volume requires equally efficient machining technology. This is where the machines from EMAG come into play, as managing director Gernot Penn explains: “The majority of our forged parts are then machined in-house. We use our connected EMAG VL manufacturing systems for this, which run practically around the clock.”

The EMAG machine portfolio has been systematically expanded over the years and

now includes over 30 EMAG VL 2 machines for machining small to medium-sized rotationally symmetrical workpieces, VL 2 DUO line machines with TrackMotion system for automated link-up, VL 3 DUO machines for larger workpieces, and VL 5i systems for machining complex geometries.

Penn plans to merge all three Austrian sites at the Stratzdorf location by 2028, which will mean a significant rationalization boost. EMAG machines will play an important role in this, as their compact design enables high productivity per unit area.

More information www.emag.com

Nakamura releases new CNC multi-tasking lathe

Nakamura-Tome Precision Industry has introduced a new CNC multi-tasking lathe named NTY³-150V. The machine is the fourth model in the V series, following the WY-150V introduced in October 2024, and is specifically designed for high-speed performance. It features several new technologies as standard, including ChronoCut software, which reduces idle time during machining for a productivity boost of up to 30%.

The NTY³-150V is a three-turret machine capable of mounting tools on up to 72 stations. By pre-setting tools for two or three workpieces beforehand, there is no need to change tool set-ups when processing different workpieces. Moreover, adjusting the left-right time balance and utilising the lower turret for centre support – along with the flexibility of machining processes that can be designed – adds to the appeal of three-turret machines.

Nakamura-Tome’s NTY³-150V is the first in its class to offer a spindle capable of handling 80 mm diameter bar capacity, with the option of equipping a motor of up to 28/15 kW. Additionally, the milling motor features a standard output of 7.5/3.7 kW, with maximum rotation speed increased to 10,000 rpm. This capability enables the high-speed machining of large-diameter workpieces while maintaining both high rigidity and precision.

Notably, when one turret is retracted in the Z-axis, the other turret can advance beyond its Z-axis reference point, ensuring a larger travel in this direction. Thanks to the crossover travel capability, each turret can move into the opposite side’s machining area. This enhances flexibility by making it easier to use the upper turret for long workpieces or operations involving long tools.

More information www.nakamura-tome.com