Sliding Headstock on Six Spindles
On my most recent trip to Europe, I visited the headquarters of Tornos in Moutier, Switzerland.
At the Tornos plant in Moutier Switzerland we saw a number of different models at various stages of testing and production.
It was interesting to see the amount of wiring that goes into a CNC machine such as the MultiSwiss.
This MultiSwiss is complete and ready to be shipped.
Share
On my most recent trip to Europe, I visited the headquarters of Tornos in Moutier, Switzerland. The timing was good because we were in the process of wrapping up an article for our November issue about the company’s Cyklos surface finishing machine designed to give shops the ability to integrate electrochemical or chemical surface processing into their manufacturing lines. More about this machine can be found in the Tech Brief “Finishing Touch.”
As it turns out, the Cyklos is produced in a different facility than the one we toured. But I did get to see a number of other Tornos machines in various stages of production. The one that most caught my eye this time through was the MultiSwiss, a six-spindle CNC that provides sliding headstock capability on all six spindles. This machine was first introduced at last year’s EMO and was also displayed at IMTS in September.
Designed for parts less than 14-mm diameter (40-mm length), it features 14 linear axes, seven C axes and room for as many as 18 tools (three per position). Quick-change flexibility, wide-open access to the machining area, and the use of standard tooling contribute to its productivity advantages.
The machine is the result of 4 years of research and development in an effort to bridge the gap between single-spindle and multi-spindle lathes. More details can be found in the article “A Multi-Spindle and Swiss Combination.”
RELATED CONTENT
-
Making It Big In Small Parts
This New Hampshire manufacturer is an expert in manufacturing small, complex parts. Having a niche is one solid strategy for survival, but it takes dedication, focus and technology to pull it off.
-
VIDEOS: Tips for Screw Making on Swiss-Type Machines
Here’s a three-part video series focused on Swiss screw making to help explain the benefits of thread whirling, back turning and broaching while taking into consideration CAM programming, tooling and machine specifications.
-
Advancements in Thread Whirling Tooling Technology
Many understand the advantages of thread whirling on a CNC Swiss-type. However, new tooling technology for this thread-machining process can further improve cycle times and reduce cost per part.
