Low-frequency vibration (LFV) cutting technology from Bushey-based Citizen Machinery UK Ltd (
www.citizenmachinery.co.uk) will be displayed at the exhibition on both Cincom sliding-head and Miyano fixed-head turn-mill centres (Hall 20 Stand 570).
Officially launched will be the Miyano BNA-42GTYLFV and Citizen Cincom D25-VIII; there will also be the first UK exhibition showing of the smaller capacity Cincom L12-VII. All three machines will feature LFV.
Such has been the uptake of LFV technology that 500 installations were made world-wide during 2017.
LFV is controlled by programming special G-codes at the control to impart the ideal size of chip required to offset problems such as the ‘bird-nesting’ of swarf.
The technology can also improve tool life, and it often allows an increase in the depth of cut, while achieving improved surface finishes.
These advantages are achieved by ‘vibrating’ the servo axes in the axial direction, while synchronising this vibration with the rotation of the spindle.
The ‘air-cutting’ introduced by this technique is characterised by the intermittent expulsion of fine chips, along with the elimination problems such as chip entanglement and built-up edges.
The hybrid 10-axis Miyano BNA-42-GTYLFV combines Citizen’s Cincom operating system with a Mitsubishi-based control platform.
Among the principal features are a three-axis 42mm main spindle with hydraulic clamping, a two-axis sub-spindle, a single three-axis eight-station turret with half indexing, and a gang-tool slide.
There is a total of 45 tool positions.
Meanwhile, Citizen’s 10-axis Cincom D25-VIII has the next-generation control, a main spindle and a sub-spindle, a pair of three-axis vertical gang tool posts, a B axis, a back tool post and an opposite tool post.
There is a total of 59 tool positions.
Finally, the compact Cincom L12-VLFV has a 15,000rev/min main spindle, a 10,000rev/min sub-spindle and a 27-tool capacity. The machine features a three-axis vertical gang tool post incorporating a 30deg B axis.
There are six turning-tool positions, up to nine driven tools and eight gang-drilling tools. A 16mm spindle is available as an option.