The latest Chiron DZ machining centres from the Engineering Technology Group (www.engtechgroup.com) bring the high-volume productivity benefits of twin-spindle machining centres to larger components.

Furthermore, they have a similar footprint to a single-spindle machine and come at a price that is significantly less than two comparable machines.

The new DZ 24 and DZ 26 machines offer twin spindles at 400mm, 600mm and 900mm centres; they can also be supplied with a drum-type automatic pallet changer that allows components to be loaded and unloaded in parallel with the machining cycle.

The DZ 24 has a working envelope of 830 x 630 x 630mm with two spindles on 400mm or 600mm centres. Axis accelerations are 10m/sec² in X and 15m/sec² in Y and Z; rapids are up to 75m/min.

The chip-to-chip time is 2.7sec, and the workpiece change time is from 3.5sec (depending on the component weight). The HSK-63 spindle offers speeds of 12,000, 15,000 and 20,000rev/min, with up to 320Nm of torque available.

The new DZ 26 is Chiron’s first horizontal machining centre; with a 900mm spindle distance, it can undertake the simultaneous machining of very large components. It offers bridge dimensions of 1,250-1,900mm, with 630 or 950mm for the X axis, 630mm for the Y axis and 600mm for the Z axis.

Axis accelerations are up to 20m/sec², with rapids up to 90m/min. The HSK-63 or HSK-100 spindle offers 390Nm torque and spindle speeds up to 20,000rev/min. As with the DZ 24, the chip-to-chip time is 2.7sec, and the workpiece change time is from 3.5sec.

Both machines can be supplied with the new Chiron Tool Tower magazine, which can be specified with 130, 170 or 210 tool positions. Rotary tables for four-axis machining and two-axis swivel rotary tables for five-axis machining are available as options.