Tsugami Mori CNC sliding head automatic lathes run on soluble oils as well as the traditional neat mineral oils. The machines will also machine very short length components, as well as the more usual longer components associated with this machine type. Many competing CNC sliding head automatics will only run on neat oils.

Neat oils are necessary in those machines to lubricate the guide bush.

The TSUGAMI-MORI BS series of machines, now being sold by Pollard Mori Seiki in the UK and Ireland, operate with either oil, as the rotary guide bush carrier has its own lubrication system.

Neat oils are considered to be a fire hazard.

A soluble oil coolant allows the TSUGAMI-MORI machines to operate unattended over long periods, with much less fire risk.

Warranty on the TSUGAMI-MORI BS series covers the use of soluble and neat oils.

Contributing significantly to the versatility of the TSUGAMI-MORI BS series is the design of the double spindle unit assembly comprising of the main spindle and guide bush arrangement.

This design patented by TSUGAMI increases efficiency by three times so allowing components to be machined to higher precision.

The collet can approach right up to the rear of the guide bush, so allowing very short components to be machined.

TSUGAMI-MORI has also increased the number of back end working tools to eight stations, including three driven tool stations.

In all, up to 18-24 tools, with up to nine driven tools, can be set up in a BS machine.

Such an extensive set-up allows the machining of complex parts, such as hydraulic valve spools, or a variety of simpler components without having to change tooling.

All driven tooling spindles have a Y-axis function allowing eccentric drilling, PCD drilling and milling.

Precision is another very important machine design consideration by TSUGAMI-MORI.

To achieve even greater structural stability and rigidity, the BS cast bed structure is heavier than comparable competing machines.

For example, the 20mm bar BS machine weighs 2.8 tons compared with competing machines which are at around 500kg lighter.

Consequently, taking into consideration the increased rigidity and damping characteristics of the structure, the machine will perform to specification.

For example, the 20mm machine will maintain tolerances on turned carbon steel bar within 8(m on diameter, roundness to 1.5(m and surface roughness (depending on material) to 1.5(m Ra.

The operation is based on using diamond tooling and careful toolsetting.

Set-up times have been considerably shortened as a guide bushing and a main spindle collet chuck can be quickly drawn out into the tooling zone.

So a short set-up time of 5min can be realised.

The guide bushing holder cartridge can be changed, so a replacement can be adjusted away from the machine.

Users of sliding head automatics can specify a TSUGAMI-MORI BS machine to be multi-functional in nature, or to be more narrowly dedicated to a specific number of operations.

There are 18 different machine's and tooling layout specifications to choose from.

Machine types cover a range of bar sizes from 1-32mm.

The CNC is based on a GE Fanuc 21i/18i-TA running TSUGAMI-MORI 'Meister-Pro' automatic programming software.

Machine Design and Layout The basic machine layout consists of a main, box-section, gang-tool carrier slide (X1 and A axes) with turning and/or driven tooling mounted either side of the bush guide located in front of the directly-driven sliding headstock (Z1 axis).

Back-working tools are mounted on an independent back tool slide (Y2 axis) located above the main tooling.

The back spindle carrier (X2 and Z2 axes) has three to five static or a mix of static/independently-operating driven tooling stations mounted below the rotary workpiece gripper.

Once the main machining operation is finished, the sub spindle can present the workpiece to the back tool slide for back end-working, while machining commences on the next workpiece.

As well as providing simultaneous machining and back-end working, the tooling layout also allows: ....

Simultaneous OD and ID turning; ....

Main spindle synchronised turning with the end of the bar supported in the back spindle gripper; ....

Front and back rigid tapping, simultaneous cross-drilling and front slotting and ....

The simultaneous execution of OD turning processes, using two cutting tools (main tool carrier and back spindle tool carrier).

The TSUGAMI BS/BO Series is available in five standard machine sizes - which cover bar diameters from 1 to 32mm.

The three BS/BO 7/12/18A-III, B-III and C-III machines have a working capacity of 12/18mm bar diameter's with a turning length up to 210mm.

They will drill up to 7mm diameter and rigidly tap up to M6.

The back spindle has a gripping diameter of 12mm.

The BS Series 12/18A-III or B-III machines have up to 16 tools with 5-axes positioning or the C-III with 18 tools - including two driven tooling stations in the five-station back tool slide - and six axes positioning.

Both types have three ID tool stations in the back spindle carrier.

The three varieties each of the BS20 and BS26 series have capacities of 6-20mm and 8-26mm bar stock diameter by 210mm turning length.

The BS32-III has a capacity of 8-32mm bar stock diameter by 250mm turning length.

The BS20 and 26 provide 17 and 24 tool stations with up to five driven tooling positions, typically two on the back spindle carrier and three on the back tool slide.

Three or four driven cross-drilling stations can be specified.

After Sales Service Pollard Mori Seiki has appointed Jim Healey as Product Manager for the TSUGAMI-MORI CNC sliding head automatics.

Jim Healey brings a wealth of knowledge to this product range having spent the last 10 years working within the small parts turning industry and joined Pollard in September 2000.

Pollard Mori Seiki has 26 existing area engineers in the field who service all Mori Seiki products, who will all have undergone extensive training programmes at TSUGAMI-MORI, Japan.

'There is currently an upsurge of interest in CNC sliding automatics in the UK', said Jim.

'The TSUGAMI-MORI product is a very rigid machine.

Rigidity is the key to successful and reliable CNC sliding head automatic operation.

They are also very easy and quick to set up.

Users can consider production runs as short as 100-off'.