Article From: 6/22/2010 Production Machining
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The MC 531/TWIN² four-spindle machine is equipped with 56 tool places in the standard version, with options for magazines with as many as 120 tools.
In four-spindle machining, with short tool-to-part contact times, the load and unload sequences of the workpieces are important, the company says. In such cases, as long as the machine is not equipped with a quick automatic loading/unloading system, pendulum machining is more advisable. This ensures parallel machining time while loading workpieces. Time for loading and unloading can then be as long as the actual cycle time of the machine. This will also result in less time when the operator is interacting with the machine, thereby enabling the operator to run multiple stations in a work cell setup, while keeping a touch time protocol on each machine.
