Taiwanese machine tool builder Leadwell CNC Machines has introduced a new model — BC-600 — at the smaller-capacity end of its of BC-series of five-axis machining centres. On all four models, the rotary axes are provided by a ±110deg B-axis spindle and an integrated C-axis rotary table, both of which can be interpolated with X, Y and Z to allow fully simultaneous five-axis production.

The machine, which is fitted with scales in the linear and rotary axes as standard, is available in the UK and Ireland through recently appointed sole sales and service agent WH-Lead Ltd (www.wh-lead.co.uk), which moved into its new Towcester facility in April.

A notable feature of the 12-tonne BC-600 is its ‘generous working envelope’ for the nominal 4.7 x 3.8m footprint. The travels in X and Y are 1,100mm and 610mm respectively, while components 610mm tall can be machined with the spindle in the vertical orientation (790mm with the spindle horizontal). The cutting feed rate is up to 10m/min; the rapid rates are 36m/min in X and Y, and 30m/min in Z.

The flush 600mm-diameter rotary table accepts workpieces weighing up to 400kg, but the full 1,280 x 610mm fixed table accommodates 1,400kg workpieces for three- or four-axis machining. The C axis uses a direct-drive motor to provide high torque and rigidity — and to avoid the backlash normally associated with worm gear drives.

The maximum standard rotational speed of the C-axis table is 120rev/min, but there is an optional 800rev/min version that offers a turning capability.

The 40-taper (or HSK-T63) tilting spindle, which can be positioned to within 20sec of arc, is driven at up to 15,000rev/min (optionally 10,000 or 12,000rev/min) by an 18.5kW motor. A 40-station tool magazine is fitted as standard.

The controls available are: Heidenhain TNC640 with 21GB of programme storage, a ‘DCM’ function to minimise the risk of a collision during five-axis cycles and KinematicsOpt geometry error compensation; Siemens 840D with either full five-axis or 4 +1 interpolation; or Fanuc 0MiF, which is available only with 4 + 1 capability.

The BC range is completed by models BC-700, -800 and -960. The largest of these has an installed weight of 18.6 tonnes, an 800mm-diameter table and a working envelope of 2,040 x 1,000 x 820mm (min)/948mm (max) in Z.