Soraluce based the design on its FL model, as a fully enclosed installation with a flexible working area that can be configured with one or more work stations with fixed and rotary tables, according to operators’ needs.
Soraluce is due to introduce a new boring and milling machine at EMO Hannover 2011 in September, and to the North American market through its Soraluce America Inc. subsidiary. The F-MT Milling-Turning Center combines boring/milling with vertical turning technologies in a single machine, creating opportunities for manufacturing complex components in a single machine and offering versatility, saving production time and associated production costs, according to the system developer.
Soraluce is a part of the Danobat Group, which designs and builds band saw systems, machines for drilling, grinding, punching, automatic bending, and lathes, as well as plasma 3D cutting systems, and forming machines for railway components.
The F-MT Milling-Turning Center is described as a “compact solution” based on the Soraluce FL model, which has a flexible working area that can be configured to the customers’ needs. It can be configured with one or multiple working stations with fixed tables and rotary tables for both milling and turning operations. It’s a multi-tasking design that can complete turning, milling, boring, drilling, and tapping in a single setup, on detailed parts. Soraluce calls it “ideal” for machining aerospace or energy components, and for precision engineering in one time or series production.
This highly dynamic machine has a 35 m/min of axis speed with an acceleration of 2 m/s2 in each individual axis. This, combined with the high power and torque of the main spindle and the improved thrust forces in all axes (up to 16 kN), results in a state-of-the-art solution for high volume chip removal and stable cutting conditions for both milling and turning.
The machine’s integrated rotary table, with built-in drive technology, can be used in both milling and turning working modes. With a maximum diameter of 1,600 mm and a maximum working load of 8,000 kg, the table has a maximum rotational speed of 250 rpm and a maximum turning torque of up to 2,500 Nm, supported by a maximum tangential torque of up to 26,000 Nm in clamped condition.
For turning, the F-MT incorporates an automatic system for loading/unloading the turning head outside the working area. This turning head is attached to the main body of the milling head of the machine, so high-volume chip removal is possible during turning as well as precision machining, while the bearings of the head remain completely protected.
The design is fully enclosed (including both magazines) with a guarding system that opens and closes automatically.
Finally, the machine space required has also been optimized with a final space requirement of 7400×5600 mm.
At EMO, the Soraluce F-MT will be exhibited with a fixed table of 4,000×1,200 mm incorporating a 1,600 mm diameter turning table in the center.
The F-MT has a longitudinal travel of 3,500 mm, a vertical travel of 1,800 mm, and cross travel of 1,200 mm. It is designed to run with a high-torque, direct-drive spindle motor, with 32-kW of power and 6,000 rpm (900 Nm at S1), guaranteeing high chip removal, low heat level, minimal maintenance, reduced noise, and high precision and efficiency.
Also, the machine is guided by the Heidenhain’s new iTNC530 HSCI control system, with turning function cycles specially developed by Soraluce integrated into the CNC unit.
The F-MT is equipped with an 80-station automatic tool changer (alternative tool changer capacities are available.)
