SCHUNK enlarges its program of 3-jaw quick-change chucks with the SCHUNK ROTA THW plus 400 offering more efficiency at medium sizes. Like all the lathe chucks of the ROTA THW plus family, the wedge bar power chuck is particularly designed for the production of small and medium-batch sizes. It is suitable for ID and OD clamping. With its optimized jaw quick-change mechanism, it ensures that CNC lathes, pick-up lathes and turn/mill centers can be converted to a new range of parts within a very short period of time. Due to the high jaw changing repeatability of < 0.02 mm, the already machined sets of chuck jaws can be used again and again.

All-rounder with a high operating and process safety
The large center through-hole with a diameter of 128 mm allows an extremely versatile use. The jaw stroke amounts to 8 mm, the clamping force to 240 kN, and the maximum speed to 3,500 RPM. The ROTA THW plus 400 is extremely flat and there remains enough space in the machine. For maximum operator safety when changing the jaws, an integrated ball mechanism ensures that the actuation key can be pulled only when the wedge bar has snapped into the base jaw. Moreover, a sophisticated lubrication system ensures that the most important guide surfaces are always optimally lubricated.

According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, “Lathe Machines Market – Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2015 – 2022”, the lathe machines market was valued at $9,925 million in 2015, and is projected to reach $12,012 million by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 2.6% from 2015 to 2022. Asia-Pacific dominated with 43.8% of the global lathe machines market share in 2015.

Lathe machines are one of the most important machine tools used in the metal-working industry and are considered as powerful metal shaping machine tools.  They transform the unfinished metal sheet into a variety of finished metal products, precise machine components, automotive spares, and body parts. Lathe machines include metal cutting tools that create desired product from metal sheets by scraping the unwanted metal.

The global lathe machines market is segmented based on type, mode of operation, end-user industry, and geography. By type, the lathe machine is classified into horizontal lathes and vertical lathes. The horizontal lathes segment was the most dominant type in 2015, and is estimated to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. Horizontal lathes are machine tools used for glass working, metal working & spinning, and wood turning. The demand for these machines has increased considerably over the years owing to their ability to deform metal for a wide range of materials and constant advancements in technology.

Based on the mode of operation, the global lathe machines market is segmented into conventional or manually operated lathes and CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled) lathes. CNC lathes dominated the market in 2015 accounting for $8,121 million in 2015. CNC lathes have steadily replaced previous production lathes as they are simple to set up and operate, and require minimal supervision

The global lathe machines market based on end-user industry is classified into automotive, general machinery, transport, and others. The automotive segment dominated the market in 2015, accounting for $3,809 million. The lathe machines market for automotive segment is driven by the improvement in the economic conditions and the rise in consumer confidence, which have resulted in higher demand for new, fuel-efficient, and technologically advanced cars equipped with more safety features. This in turn has enhanced production rates for the industry, causing upsurge in demand for lathe machines.

Geographically, the market is studied across four regions, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. Asia-Pacific was the most dominant geographical market in 2015, and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.2% owing to the emergence of Asian countries as global economic powers and their increase in interest in the development of their local manufacturing base.

According to Nikhil Dasyam, Research Analyst, Construction & Manufacturing at Allied Market Research, “Steady recovery in the global Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) together with therapidly growing manufacturing activity in countries such as India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Taiwan drives the market for lathe machines during the forecast period”.

Key findings of the study

• CNC lathe machines market accounted for $8,121 million in 2015, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.4% during the forecast period.
• Lathe machines market for general machinery industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.8%.
• Horizontal lathe machines market was valued at $8,367 million in 2015.
• Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing regional market, with a CAGR of 3.2%.

The key players in the lathe machines market focus on collaborations, partnerships, and product developments to remain competitive in the market. Some of the key players in the lathe machines market include Dalian Machine Tool Group Corporation, DMG Mori Co., Ltd, Doosan Machine Tools, Haas Automation Inc., Hardinge Inc., HMT Machine Tools, JTEJT Corporation, Okuma Corporation, Samsung Machine Tools, and Yamazaki Mazak Corporation.

The “OSP suite,” a next-generation intelligent CNC that optimizes “monozukuri” (craftsmanship-based industrial manufacturing), is now available in an operation panel with a 15-inch monitor for all Okuma lathes and machining centers.

The large 19-inch monitor developed to showcase the “OSP suite” and equipped to Okuma multitasking machines and 5-axis machining centers was launched at JIMTOF 2014 (Japan International Machine Tool Fair). Okuma’s latest control has since been well received and promoted by industry experts as “digital monozukuri” that is a perfect fit for IoT (the Internet of Things).

The more compact “OSP suite (15-in. ver)” was developed for a wide range of Okuma machine tools. It can be equipped to all of our lathes and machining centers and provide even more productivity required by competitive “monozukuri” shops everywhere.

The quick jaw change system SCHUNK PRONTO is a real set-up time killer for conventional lathe chucks with screw connected chuck jaws. It lowers set-up time of a complete jaw set to 30 seconds, which is about 95% faster than conventional solutions. After the successful premiere, SCHUNK, the competence leader for clamping technology and gripping systems presents a complete system program now, which optimizes the set-up process from the storage of the quick-change set to the jaw change on the machine.

SCHUNK PRONTO combines fine-serrated supporting jaws (1/16’’ x 90° or 1.5 mm x 60°) with special quick-change inserts, and extends the clamping diameter up to 45 mm in seconds. This is eight times more than with conventional lathe chucks. To achieve a fast and highly repeatable jaw change the locking of the changing inserts are loosened with an Allen key, the insert is removed and replaced with another one. This prevents an incorrect positioning. In locked condition, a six-sided form-fit clamping ensures maximum process stability, and provides high force and torque transmission. This system is suitable for clamping raw and machined parts.

As required by the application, different supporting jaw variants for small, medium, and large clamping ranges are available. For top jaws, the innovative family-owned company is offering ten hard claw inserts for different diameters and clamping ranges, and three soft changing inserts for finished parts processing. Once they have been turned out, the latter can be used again and again on the system. The clamping depth can be varied using workpiece stops, and an adjustment aid simplifies jaw change.

SCHUNK PRONTO can be used on every fine-serrated lathe chuck in sizes 200, 250, and 315, and is independent from the manufacturer. The modular design of the program system allows individual and economical combinations of individual components. This also includes the compatibility of the changing inserts with every supporting jaw, because only the position varies. A specifically developed tool and gear wagon ensures clean storage, and fast access to the claw inserts, soft changing inserts, supporting jaws with mounted screws, T-nuts, and adjustment aids. Clearly structured technical data charts simplify the selection and assembly of the individual components. As an added bonus, storage space is integrated in the machine: All the components can be transported on a tray, and by using a quick release fastener, can be assembled directly in the machine.

ASKAR Microns (P) Ltd, a member of the ASKAR Group, located at Mysuru 140 Km from the capital city of Karnataka, Bengaluru, will be displaying the following machines at the biggest Indian Machine Tool Show – IMTEX 2015 from Jan 22-Jan28, 2015.

CNC SLANT BED MACHINE OF 3000 mm ABC MODEL: SPINNER 25 / 3000 mm For the first time in India, a wholly-owned Indian company has indigenously designed, developed and produced a heavy-duty true slant bed (30˚) CNC Lathe for the Indian Railways. The machine was developed without any technology collaboration or foreign tie up, true to the word of ‘MAKE IN INDIA’. All these years the heavy railway axle shaft & wheel shafts used by the Indian Railways, were being produced on machines imported from Germany or South Korea. ASKAR took up the challenge from the railways to develop a sturdy suitable machine in India. And today, ASKAR is proud supplier of the machine to different railway workshops. The machine has already proved its mettle at the Railway Workshops across the country and the shaft production has started successfully. The Spinner 25 / 3000 mm machine is built with a heavy duty single piece casting. The complete machine structure is optimally designed using FEM. The base, saddle and cross slide have been optimally provided with supporting ribs with sufficient wall thickness to provide very high rigidity to the machine during heavy cutting loads and high depth of cut expected from such super heavy duty machines. The machines have been tested for accuracy and precision by the esteemed CMTI, a Government of India body, which is the approved certifying authority of the machine tool industry. The machine has also gone through the stringent inspection and quality approval of the RITES inspection team.  After having gone through the rigours of continuous testing and field trials at the different railway workshops, ASKAR is now proud to display this true ‘MADE IN INDIA’ machine to Indian customers and demonstrate to the world that Indian entrepreneurs and engineers are as good as the best anywhere in the world.

FLAT BED CNC LATHE of 2000 mm ABC with LINEAR MOTION GUIDEWAYS : SPIN FLAT 2000 ABC This product is the outcome of continuous efforts of ASKAR, over the past 5 years, to meet German international standards in Machine tools. Spin Flat , the Flat bed CNC lathe with LM Guides for both X and Z axes movements, has gone through 3 versions and has now stabilized in the market. The machine has been through the rigours of the workshop atmosphere and come up as a winner.  The whole concept of building the Flat Bed machine with LM Guide is unique.  ASKAR has gone through an acid test to prove the worthiness of the machine concept and has successfully harnessed all the criticism and feedback from the customers to finally launch this product as a true EXPORT machine.   Some of the unique features of this machine are :

• Rigidity of cutting shafts both large in diameter and length.  Shafts length of 1000 mm to 3000 mm have already been proven.
• Large dia Hollow tube boring upto 1000 mm with special anti-vibration boring bars have also been proven.
• The machine is suitable for multiple industrial applications like Hydraulics, Automobile, packaging, Aeronautics, Railways etc where large heavy components have to be machined with consistent tolerance / accuracy.
• The machine enclosures are provided with LM Guideways for frictionless movement of the ‘Heavy Doors’. This eases the fatigue of the operator and enhances productivity. Both the doors and the CNC mounted panel move on the LM Guideways.
• The space availability in the machine allows the operator to load and unload heavy components using overhead cranes. Visibility during loading is not obstructed by the TURRET as the turret has been mounted towards the non-operator side.

Many more features like the above (implemented from the market feedback in the last 5 years) has made the ‘SPIN FLAT’ an out-and-out winner with an international product appeal.  The machine being displayed at the IMTEX is the machine scheduled for EXPORT.

From November 19th – 22nd, the premier METALEX 2014 show will occupy Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. The show will be one to remember, as Taiwanese well known CNC manufacturers FEMCO will be demonstrating new generation CNC technologies. Visitors will have opportunity to witness the live demonstration of HL-25 DM designed for high speed precision turning and milling; HL-25N designed for high speed precision turning and WHL-55 Horizontal Alloy Wheel Turning Machine at FEMCO’s Booth B521, hall 105 .

FEMCO to display the below mentioned machines at METALEX:-

HL-25 DM
FEMCO’s HL-25 DM CNC lathe is designed for high speed precision turning and milling. The lathe features a Durga 23-station, twin disk turret and sub spindle for increased productivity. The turret is said to provide quick setup times and fast chip-to-chip tool changes. This twin disk turret allows for 12 tools for OD turning and 11 tools for ID turning. All ID tool stations can be equipped with radial and axial power-driven tools for maximum turning and milling versatility. The main spindle is equipped with an 8″ chuck and a 20-hp, 4,800 rpm spindle with 2.02″ bar capacity for greater machining capabilities.

HL-25N
FEMCO’s HL-25 N CNC lathe is designed for high speed precision turning. The lathe features Max. swing over bed θ 515 mm, turning diameter θ 250 mm and turning length 580 mm. Choice of 8, 12 station turret or power turret is also available with this model. FANUC αP22i wide speed range spindle drive provides 11/15KW output and it comes with choice of FANUC or Siemens CNC control.

WHL-55
Horizontal Wheel turning lathe is designed to provide high rigidity and heavy duty Cutting. Specifications includes Max Swing-727mm X-axis travel-340mm Z-axis travel-700mm Powerfu. The machine is equipped with high rigidity servo turret, precision positioning etc. It has one peice Meehanite cast iron base and square structure. Main spindle specifically designed for wheels, improved stability unmatched by generic CNC machining spindles, low noise, high loads, and improved lifespan, improved strength and resistance to wear for the slider, higher turning performance.