How does the Brother M200 run turning tools in the milling spindle?

[alek95]

Hi there

I've been watching videos of the Brother mill-turn machines. They seem to be running lathe tools in a standard BT30 spindle. How is that possible? Do they use a special tool holder for that?

Where do people buy these tool holders? Are they expensive?

 

[couch]

They are BT30 holders with a flange that orients on pins behind the taper. Nikken and NT Tool are the main mfgs for them, there may be more.

They’re considerably more expensive than a typical BT30 holder.

Yamazen is the best source for anything Brother related.

Turning Tools for brother's SPEEDIO M200xd1, M200xd1-5AX, M300x3｜NT USA CORPORATION Home Page

Turning Tools for brother's SPEEDIO M200xd1, M200xd1-5AX, M300x3is published.NT Tool is a precision manufacturer of quality, precision toolholders, collets and manufacturing accessories.

www.nttoolusa.com

 

[Orange Vise]

Around 300 a piece.

 

[alek95]

Very interesting. Thank you both for the info.

Obviously this machine isn't a replacement for a real lathe, but it could be amazing for the right parts.

I am beginning to program and set up a Doosan Y axis live tool lathe at my job. It's a LOT of work to do set ups. Almost not worth it unless you are doing big production runs of 1000+ parts (in my humble opinion).

Is there a different way to combine lathe and mill which makes set ups easier?

 

[Orange Vise]

Correct, the M series machines cannot replace a lathe in many applications. Turning capability is quite good, but chip handling's not, and you can't slap on a barfeeder.

There's no low-cost shortcut to setting up live tooled lathes. All the viable solutions, from quick change Capto tooling and screw-on-head endmills to using a B-axis Mill-Turn, are expensive.