TRAUB TNL32-11 Automatic Lathe

March 15, 2016

The new TRAUB TNL32-11 sliding/fixed headstock automatic lathe has a headstock moving in the Z-axis, an upper and identical lower turret with X, Y, and Z-axes, and a counter spindle movable in the X and Z directions. It offers a new front working attachment which sits on an additional cross-slide moving in the X and Z axes, providing the user with further, freely positionable tools and enables the use of up to three tools, simultaneously and independently of each other. The 11-axis machine saves machining time, especially for components with a high proportion of drilling.

In addition to the two linear X and Z axes, the front working attachment features a CNC circular axis. By the interpolation of the rotary axis with the X-axis and the C-axis of the main spindle, the front working attachment can also be used in the Y direction using an interpolated Y-axis. The particular benefit: When a drilling tool needs to be corrected to exact center, the necessary corrections can be simply performed via the CNC. That can be help with small parts which react with great sensitivity to even minimal offset errors.

The front working attachment makes eight additional tool stations available. Four of them are used to mount fixed tools, the other four are for live tools.

There is also a station for a workpiece gripper which can unload a machined workpiece from the counter spindle. A time-saving advantage: While the finished workpiece is discharged from the counter spindle, the next part can be machined with two tools at the main spindle.

With an output of up to 3.4 kW and a maximum speed of 12,000 rpm, the tool drive in the front working attachment is extremely productive and designed for high power. The toolholders are highly robust and stiff with a mounting shank diameter of 36 mm. Individually controllable coolant pressure of up to 80 bar is available at every station. One live station can be used as a deep-hole drilling station with a coolant supply up to 120 bar. The front working attachment can also be used as a tailstock when producing long components.

In addition to the advantages of the front working attachment, the TRAUB TNL32-11 offers the many other benefits of the entire TNL series. The work area is easily accessible to the operator due to its high and wide sliding door, simplifying setup and changeovers. A large inspection window allows the operator to keep a close eye on the machining process. The long Z-axis travel of the headstock means the machine can easily be used for sliding or fixed headstock turning without compromises in less than 15 minutes.

Tool turret indexing is performed using an NC rotary axis that controls movement via an internally meshing planetary gear. This allows the turret to be indexed to any position without requiring a mechanical locking mechanism. The free positioning of the turret makes multiple-tool assignment possible on each station.

Another highlight is the “Dual Drive,” consisting of two drivetrains integrated within one turret. This patented drive solution reduces nonmachining time and thus also machining times per piece. The concept simple and ingenious: While one tool is in use, the tool intended for the next work step can be accelerated up to the desired speed during main time and is immediately available at full speed after the turret indexing operation.

Jerky accelerations and delays that were previously unavoidable when reducing auxiliary processing times are now prevented. In addition, toolholder wear is reduced due to the lower acceleration values. Even with live tools, chip-to-chip times are around just 0.3 seconds.

Related Glossary Terms

  • computer numerical control ( CNC)

    computer numerical control ( CNC)

    Microprocessor-based controller dedicated to a machine tool that permits the creation or modification of parts. Programmed numerical control activates the machine’s servos and spindle drives and controls the various machining operations. See DNC, direct numerical control; NC, numerical control.

  • coolant

    coolant

    Fluid that reduces temperature buildup at the tool/workpiece interface during machining. Normally takes the form of a liquid such as soluble or chemical mixtures (semisynthetic, synthetic) but can be pressurized air or other gas. Because of water’s ability to absorb great quantities of heat, it is widely used as a coolant and vehicle for various cutting compounds, with the water-to-compound ratio varying with the machining task. See cutting fluid; semisynthetic cutting fluid; soluble-oil cutting fluid; synthetic cutting fluid.

  • drilling tool ( drill or drill bit)

    drilling tool ( drill or drill bit)

    End-cutting tool for drilling. Tool has shank, body and angled face with cutting edges that drill the hole. Drills range in size from “microdrills” a few thousandths of an inch in diameter up to spade drills, which may cut holes several inches in diameter. Drills may have tapered shanks with a driving tang and fit directly into a spindle or adapter, or they may have straight shanks and be chuck-mounted. The rake angle varies with the material drilled. Styles include twist drills, straight-flute drills, half-round and flat drills, oil-hole drills, indexable drills and specials.

  • interpolation

    interpolation

    Process of generating a sufficient number of positioning commands for the servomotors driving the machine tool so the path of the tool closely approximates the ideal path. See CNC, computer numerical control; NC, numerical control.

  • lathe

    lathe

    Turning machine capable of sawing, milling, grinding, gear-cutting, drilling, reaming, boring, threading, facing, chamfering, grooving, knurling, spinning, parting, necking, taper-cutting, and cam- and eccentric-cutting, as well as step- and straight-turning. Comes in a variety of forms, ranging from manual to semiautomatic to fully automatic, with major types being engine lathes, turning and contouring lathes, turret lathes and numerical-control lathes. The engine lathe consists of a headstock and spindle, tailstock, bed, carriage (complete with apron) and cross slides. Features include gear- (speed) and feed-selector levers, toolpost, compound rest, lead screw and reversing lead screw, threading dial and rapid-traverse lever. Special lathe types include through-the-spindle, camshaft and crankshaft, brake drum and rotor, spinning and gun-barrel machines. Toolroom and bench lathes are used for precision work; the former for tool-and-die work and similar tasks, the latter for small workpieces (instruments, watches), normally without a power feed. Models are typically designated according to their “swing,” or the largest-diameter workpiece that can be rotated; bed length, or the distance between centers; and horsepower generated. See turning machine.

  • numerical control ( NC)

    numerical control ( NC)

    Any controlled equipment that allows an operator to program its movement by entering a series of coded numbers and symbols. See CNC, computer numerical control; DNC, direct numerical control.

  • shank

    shank

    Main body of a tool; the portion of a drill or similar end-held tool that fits into a collet, chuck or similar mounting device.

  • toolholder

    toolholder

    Secures a cutting tool during a machining operation. Basic types include block, cartridge, chuck, collet, fixed, modular, quick-change and rotating.

  • turning

    turning

    Workpiece is held in a chuck, mounted on a face plate or secured between centers and rotated while a cutting tool, normally a single-point tool, is fed into it along its periphery or across its end or face. Takes the form of straight turning (cutting along the periphery of the workpiece); taper turning (creating a taper); step turning (turning different-size diameters on the same work); chamfering (beveling an edge or shoulder); facing (cutting on an end); turning threads (usually external but can be internal); roughing (high-volume metal removal); and finishing (final light cuts). Performed on lathes, turning centers, chucking machines, automatic screw machines and similar machines.