Y-axis cross-feed giving improved flexibility

Citation

(2005), "Y-axis cross-feed giving improved flexibility", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 77 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2005.12777dab.003

Y-axis cross-feed giving improved flexibility

Y-axis cross-feed giving improved flexibility

Keywords: Component manufacturing

Developed to produce very complex mill/turn components up to 42 mm diameter, combining high orders of geometrical positioning and size accuracy on components requiring the combination of multiple features machined on a part in a single “one- hit” cycle, the latest fixed-head Boley Evolutum BE42Y now incorporates additional machining flexibility through the addition of a cross-feed Y-axis to one of its two 12 station turrets (Plate 2).

The machine, now available from NC Engineering, Watford, UK, is said to have the added capability to perform cycles such as eccentric cross-milling and machining requiring helical interpolation on up to 42 mm bar or 140 mm chucking applications, while incorporating the ability to simultaneously machine with three tools.

Plate 2 The fixed head Boley Evolutum BE42Y incorporates a cross-feed Y-axis to the turret

The high precision Boley BE42 is able to transfer parts between its two spindles which have full C-axis capability for mill/turn machining sequences. These spindles are serviced by two identical 12 station turrets which have one second indexing and a 1 kW 4,500 revs/min drive to each position. Besides the capability to use driven tools on all stations, both turrets have two additional index positions set between each station which means up to 24 tool holders can be carried on each turret.

When this tool carrying capability is combined with the addition of the Y- axis cross-feed to the top turret of +40 mm either side of centreline, the versatility of the machine reportedly increases due to the additional free combination of axis movements to the turrets and both main and secondary spindles.

The main spindle is built around ceramic bearings and liquid cooling and is powered by an 11 kW, AC built-in motor giving between 80 and 8,000 revs/min. The collet is hydraulically operated for bar machining and to create a higher gripping force when using the optional 140 mm capacity chuck.

In its chucking lathe guise, the Boley BE42 has the facility to carry a collet in the secondary spindle and is able to pick-up the component from the main spindle by locating from a previously turned diameter. It is then transferred at a traverse rate of 24 m/min ready to position for second operational machining. In addition, the secondary spindle also incorporates an 110 mm X- 2 cross-feed axis from the Boley BC42- X2 to enable component features that are dimensioned off the centre line to be machined.

The Boley BE42 has a 30º slant bed and adopts many of the proven features of the existing Boley fixed spindle and Citizen CMC sliding head range including a common CMC control system with high speed processing capability. The machine is compact with a floor area of 2,350 mm × 1,560 mm: Options available include chute-type workpiece outfeed or conveyor, a back-spindle thread chasing device, automatic part-off, tooling monitoring and breakage detection and an automatic component loading system for chucking work.

Details available from: NC Engineering Limited. Tel: +44 (0) 1923 691500, web site: www.ncengineering.co.uk