Citizen to give exhibition debut to four-axis LFV at MACH

Citizen Miyano BNJ-51SY with fourth-axis LFV

Bushey-based Citizen Machinery UK’s patented LFV (low frequency vibration) chip-breaking process will be demonstrated with fourth-axis simultaneous capability at MACH 2026, taking place 20-24 April at the NEC, Birmingham (Hall 20, Stand 260). While the company’s latest functionality made its debut at the turn-milling machine supplier’s recent Open House at its Brierley Hill showroom in October last year, the leading industry event will provide a first opportunity for a wider audience to see the new technology demonstrated live.

Citizen first rolled out its original LFV chip-breaking functionality to international markets more than a decade ago. Integrated into the operating system of the control driving the axis motions of Citizen Cincom sliding head lathes, and more recently selected Miyano fixed-head models, it is designed to break stringy swarf into manageable chips. Distinct from programmed chip-breaking macros offered by other suppliers, LFV synchronises high-frequency vibration in the direction of the cutting feed with spindle rotation to create intermittent air-cutting to break long swarf effectively.

Photo: Citizen Miyano ANX-42SYY with four-axis LFV

Today, the technology has been further developed to enable the function to be programmed to start and stop in four separate axes at the same time — the X and Z movements of both the main and sub spindles. Four-axis LFV is a major step forward, as it greatly enhances flexibility, reduces cycle times and eliminates operational bottlenecks, since there is no need to stop the machine to remove tangled swarf, however complex the program.

Citizen says it is particularly advantageous during lights-out production when working with malleable materials like copper, some stainless steels, aluminium, titanium, nickel alloys, lead-free eco-brass, and plastics.

Optimising machining strategies
Application engineers at Citizen Machinery are always on hand to assist in optimising machining strategies and several specialists will be present at MACH 2026 to provide advice. Notably, at the show there will be five turn-mill centres featuring four-axis LFV. They will include three Miyano fixed-head lathes, a BNJ-51SY7, a BNX-65MSY with workpiece unloader, and an ANX-42SYY also with an unloader.

The other four-axis LFV models will be sliding-head Cincoms, a brand new L32-X Series 2 and an M32-VIII that combines the speed of a gang toolpost with the versatility of a 10-station turret. Both machines, along with the Miyano models on display including a BNE-65 with automatic toolchanger, are capable of super-imposed machining with up to three tools in cut simultaneously, significantly reducing cycle times.

A further highlight on the stand will be a Miyano ABX-80THY with three 12-station tool turrets and enhanced thermal compensation, capable of turn-milling parts up to 80mm in diameter to very high accuracy. It will be exhibited alongside a compact, micro-machining, sliding-head Cincom RO4 lathe having a 20,000rev/min spindle, a zero-backlash linear motor in the X axis and a bar capacity of 4mm, which will be demonstrated turning a 2mm diameter component. This pair of machines at opposite ends of the range in terms of bar capacity will underscore the wide variety of production equipment currently available from Citizen Machinery UK.