Anyone needing to machine complex components weighing up to 2,000kg within an 820mm cube may wish to consider the
new VC1650 five-axis machining centre from Spinner, which is represented in the UK and Ireland by Kenilworth-based Whitehouse Machine Tools Ltd (www.wmtcnc.com).

Rigidity and accuracy are ensured by using a +1/-110deg B-axis spindle to provide the fifth CNC axis, thereby avoiding having to swivel the rotary table.

Furthermore, a fixed table to the right of the rotary table allows workpieces up to 1,650mm long to be supported horizontally for three-axis metal cutting, extending the machine’s versatility; and because the spindle head centre-line is offset by 200mm to the left of its centre of rotation, features close to the table can be machined.

Also featured is a method of protecting the table’s Y-axis guideway from swarf and coolant ingress by means of a single-wiper system that eliminates the need for a telescopic cover.

This allows the depth of the machine to be shorter, resulting in a 30% reduction in the overall footprint; and because the table moves to its extremes in the X axis, automated loading and unloading from the sides is simplified.

Customers can choose from a variety of alternative features and options, including: a 464Nm high-torque spindle or an 18,000rev/ min high-speed spindle; a 96-pocket magazine for SK50/HSK100 tools or 138 pockets for SK40/HSK63 tools; 70-bar high-pressure coolant (instead of 22-bar); linear scales in the X, Y and Z axes; and either a Siemens 840D sl control with Spinner’s Touchpanel 4.0 interface or a Heidenhain TNC640.

For chip disposal, Spinner provides four spiral augers that deliver chips to a conveyor at the front of the machine for convenient removal. This configuration also ensures that there is negligible heat transfer to the machine structure.