Six-axis, 'lights out' mill/turn centre package will demonstrate unmanned orbital milling, off-centre drilling and tapping, the machining of hexagons and engraving at MACH 2006.

An unmanned demonstration of orbital milling, off-centre drilling and tapping, the machining of hexagons and engraving will be performed on the latest six-axis Colchester Lathe Tornado T8MSY specified with the 'Lights-out' package from Colchestersales (UK). The machining operations will show the advantages gained with the latest +40mm of Y-axis cross-feed to the 12 station all-driven turret of the Tornado as part of the popular 'Lights-out' unmanned production package. Demonstrated on stand 5334 at MACH 2006, the 54mm bar capacity Tornado T8MSY with subspindle will be portraying 'one-hit' cycles where it is capable of heavy duty milling and drilling through its 12-station Sauter 3.7kW, 5,000 rev/min power tool turret.

The turret is able to accommodate tooling having a shank size up to 20mm diameter and through the Y-axis, machine up to +/-40mm - either side of centre line.

The 'Lights-out' package is the flagship of the Tornado range enabling highly automated cycles to be performed utilising the MBF 1000 integrated barfeed, parts-catcher, swarf conveyor, on-board Renishaw probing, axis tool monitoring with sister tool replacement and on-machine production scheduling software.

The machine has a 22kW main spindle with options of 3,500 or 5,000 rev/min drive and a 7.5kW, 6,000 rev/min sub-spindle.

It has a fully programmable B-axis with synchronised part transfer to create 'single hit' combined operation production cycles.

Chuck size is 254mm or 210mm and bar capacity 66mm diameter with a maximum turning diameter of 260mm by 500mm turned length.

Of major importance to its high metal removal capability is the rigidity of the turn/mill platform created through the patented 'Duo-Stable' advanced construction techniques employed by Colchester Lathe which integrates a stocky, low profile cast iron bed with a polymer concrete filled machine base.

Together this technology is some 300% more effective than a conventional cast iron frame.

This construction also provides vastly improved thermal characteristics giving far more consistent machining cycles.

* Colchester Lathe Company at MACH 2006, NEC, Birmingham, UK, May 15-19, Hall 5, Stand 5334.