Vertical machining centres

Citation

(2006), "Vertical machining centres", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 78 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2006.12778dab.007

Vertical machining centres

Vertical machining centres

Keywords: Aircraft industry, Aircraft components

Colchestersales (UK) based in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, is to market the latest advanced and high specification range of Richmond vertical machining centres as part of its high technology machining packages involving the Colchester Lathe range of Tornado, Combi and MultiTum. The machine range is also sold by 600 Centre of Shepshed near Loughborough, where the Midlands- based Colchestersales Technology Centre is also established.

Explains Colchester Lathe Director Mike Berry: “Both 600 Centre and Colchestersales (UK) are putting together packages of machines to customers that want to deal with a single supplier that has a known history and good aftersales support, so it was logical to offer the Richmond as a 600 Group product to both operations.”

The Richmond range spans a compact 500L with travels of 510 mm in X, 410 mm in Y and 460 mm in Z with 12 or 20 tools, 5.5 or 7.5 kW spindle motor and options of 8,000, 10,000 or 12,000 revs/min to the top of the range VMC 1600S. This machine weighs a massive 14 tonnes and has a BT50, spindle with options of 15 or 22 kW, 4,000 or 6,000 revs/min spindle drive and travels of 1,600 mm in X, 800mm in Y and 850 mm in Z. There are also options of 24 or 32 tool magazines.

There are two basic designs with the L version configured with linear guideways to provide faster axis movements of 36 m min^-1 across the Richmond 500, 610, 850 and 1020 machines. The S version, that is more suited to users requiring heavier milling cycles uses a hardened and ground solid boxway arrangement which is available on the Richmond 610, 850, 1020, 1300 and largest in the range the 1600. Rapid traverse rates are 24 m min^-1 on the three smallest machines and 15 m min^-1 in X and Y and 12 m min^-1 in Z on the two larger varients.

All machines can be specified with either Anilam 6000M or Fanuc O/MC controls with Heidenhain /TNC530 available on request along with a fourth-axis interface. There is a range of spindle options, again tailorable to customer requirements. The VMC 500L has a 5.5 or 7.5 kW drive, with BT40 taper while the 610, 850 and 1020 have 11 or 15 kW BT40 taper units. The larger 1300, has 11 or 15 kW of power and BT40/50 taper and the 1600 a choice of 15 or 22 kW with BT40/50 taper and maximum speeds of 4,000, 6,000, 10,000 and 12,000 revs/ min with a BT40/50 taper.

A Geneva-type carousel tool magazine changer is fitted as standard with 16 or 20 position options and a 10 s exchange while a 24 or 32 tool magazine with twin-arm changer can be specified having a 2.5 s change time.

Details available from: Colchestersales (UK). Tel: +44 (0) 1924 415151; Fax: +44 (0) 1924 415152; E-mail: mail@colchester.co.uk; web site: www.colchester.co.uk