Good morning fellow machiners,
Today I ask for your suggestions.
We are looking to take on a job that's Big diameter turning. I put medium in the title because for some of you, big turning is REALLY big. We will be machining about 6"-8" diameter, 2 feet long or slightly more, Inconel and/or tungsten. Boring about 2 feet deep, OD holes on an angle (so live tooling), OD/ID threading, etc. I would like to sink it into the the jaws to make some features but I don't know of any machines with a through bore that big. That's why I'm here. I was looking at Mazak or DMG Mori but what do I know, maybe there's something better or a model I don't know about.
If you had a reasonable budget to buy the perfect machine to make this part, What would you recommend? Must be brand new, not used or older models and obviously CNC. Thanks!
I too wonder why you posted this in General?
You are looking for a big ass CNC lathe, but it's not a CNC question?
OK, so 8" bar with 6" hole?
Whole part is 2' long and has a through hole, or is this part longer than 2', but has a blind hole 2' deep?
When you say holes on angles = live tooling.
Are you saying that you would need a B axis - like an Integrex?
If you are OK with running it in a steady rest, you will be able to run it in a LOT smaller machine, even if it requires a long-bed version. I don't have much experience with using steady's tho, and my experience seems nothing like what I see done on the trade show floors with the new hydraulic steady's. TYhose seem to run much better!
OR, if you want to swallow the part, you will need a much bigger machine, with the likes of an A15 spindle nose.
Mine isn't new by any means, but I have one that has 8" through the chuck and 7" through the spindle. But from the tips of my jaws to the face of the spindle, an 8" bar would slide back 12", so that would be pretty good for a 2' long part.
My Bertha swallows _ most stuff that I run.
Some of that will depend on what type chuck actuation that you go with.
If you have a draw-tube, you will lose another inch prolly?
Other options would be a front actuated air chuck. Can be a little scary, but with a swallowed bar, not really dangerous.
Other option is scroll, like mine. I have a power wrench on mine, but IDK if anyone still builds anything with that offering anymore.
My big gurls are both Lodge and Shipley Profiturns. A 40 and a 50.
But machines like that are not new, nor would they be equipped with live tooling - unless you add it.
IDK if Yamazaki builds Integrex's with that large of a bore or not.
I know rthey go pretty big, but at the shows they are always running parts between centers and/or with the steady in place. They never show a machine deep throating a large bar.
IDK if Okuma makes anything that big either?
Willis makes some:
Willis heavy duty large flat-bed CNC lathes are designed primarily for heavy duty turning operations with dramatic productivity. Large Bore CNC lathe with 4-speed headstock.
www.willismachinery.com
WFL is a big name in this size and kind:
5-Axis or More CNC Lathes - Lathes & Turning Machines - A computer numerical controlled turning center. They are designed to use modern carbide tooling and fully use modern processes. Listing of machines with 5 axis or more.
www.machinetools.com
But as you see, they don't list any bore sizes.
Likely there are a few options, and speed gets lower with every jump in bore size.
Just look at this one offered as used, this heaifer wouldn't swallow your bar either.
WFL M 100 / 5000 5-Axis or More CNC Lathes for sale by Mach4metal BV - Used - Excellent - Gelderland, Netherlands - #539531
www.machinetools.com
Look up Bardons and Oliver. They are in the big bore business, but they normally hang around the large tubing market.
So, if your part is only 2' long, that 165 bore machine could maybe work - if your chuck stuck out a bit.
(like mine)
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Ox
