THE MICROTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION PORTAL/THE SHOW
24.11.2017
A - Machines
SWISS GT 32 B : COMPLEX OPERATIONS WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF EASE
Encouraged by the positive customer feedback after the great success of the Swiss GT 26 and Swiss GT 32 models, Tornos now takes the Swiss GT 32 machine a further step forwards. With its 6 linear axes, two C axes, three positions for driven tools and its maximum capacity of 40 tools including 14 driven tools, the Swiss GT 32 grants the end user a remarkable flexibility and capacity.
The totally new B-axis enables the user to control and index the B-axis to virtually any angle position via the CNC program.
This feature is particularly useful for processes such as angular milling, drilling or even tapping.
As the B-axis is integrated in the main carriage of the machine, the Swiss GT 32 B is not restricted to angular adjustment but can certainly perform movements in X and Y axis directions.
Main and back machining are thus enabled.
On machines with B axis, the number of driven tools is increased to 16, with a total tool capacity of 36.
A tool station of ultra-high performance
The B-axis of Swiss GT 32 is inspired by the B-axis of Swiss GT 26 B.
The latter is also supported by two fixation points that ensure high rigidity of the device and enable it to achieve substantial chip removal rates.
The tool station can accommodate 4 double spindles for driven tools (main and back machining) that can reach a maximum speed of 9,000rpm and is thus highly efficient when it comes to drilling and milling in all kinds of material. The tool post can also be equipped with tool holders for the installation of additional stationary tools.
These 4 tool positions enable the operator to easily perform centering, drilling or even tapping tasks.
If needed, it is also possible to add one or two high-frequency spindles to the tool post and even enhance the machining capacity of the machine.
Milling ? Of course !
The additional B-axis makes the Swiss GT 32 machine a real bar milling center.
Thanks to its B-axis, the machine can be used for milling at any angle via simple CNC programming.
Making mechanical angle adjustment no longer necessary.
As on the Swiss GT 26 B, the fourth milling unit can be replaced by a thread whirling unit.
Just as is valid for angular milling, the working angle of the thread whirling cutter can be defined by the CNC
unit ; compared to mechanical adjustment, enormous time savings can therefore be achieved.
It’s no longer necessary to use the trial and error method to find the correct angle since this is determined by
the CNC unit.
This option e.g. is ideal for the production of bone screws or dental implant screws.
Thanks to the B-axis, more customised parts can be produced quite easily.
Swiss GT 32 B and Swiss GT 26 B are valuable partners for the medical and dental industries and for anyone who wants to machine workpiece types that require complex machining.
A masterfully controlled continuously swiveling B-axis pushes the limits further
These days, the complexity of parts increases in line with their diversity levels.
To respond to these growing demands on complexity, the Swiss GT 32 B machine can be equipped accordingly to realise continuous 5-axis machining with the aid of its B-axis.
Consequently, the axis can be positioned continuously to perform free contour machining tasks.
The milling spindles are rated for a maximum speed of 9,000rpm and thus enable powerful machining.
The extra rigidity offered by the two-point support of the B-axis has a positive effect on the surface finish and on the tool life.
Front and back machining can be performed simultaneously. Incidentally, many users prefer machining irregular shapes by way of back machining to avoid the constraints caused by clamping in the counter-spindle.
To enable continuous 5-axis machining, the Fanuc 31i-B control unit – standard equipment of the Swiss GT series – was replaced by the Fanuc 31i-B5 CNC unit that is able to cope with these interpolations.
So equipped, the Swiss GT 32 B can machine workpieces of any type.
Complex programming ? This is all history !
Just as with most of the new Tornos products, the Swiss GT series is supported by Tornos’ TISIS software to simplify machine programming.
Once the machine has been virtually equipped with the correct tool holders, it is possible to define the specific
geometry for each tool and to test the program or parts of it by 2D simulation.
Customers can also generate the right G codes and execute them with the appropriate values – thanks to a wizard that boasts outstanding ease of use.
TISIS is also able to manage the specific know-how of each operator.
Customized operations can be stored in the library from which they can be called upon in an extremely intuitive manner for future use in other programs.
Furthermore, the software offers various production monitoring functions and enables machine networking.
Complex operations ? It’s a breeze !
TISIS is highly efficient for the management of socalled classical operations. However, as everybody knows, the generation of irregular shapes or contour shaping requires the creation of a large number of program blocks which are often too many to be created manually.
A CAD/CAM system must thus be used as an aid. For all those, who don’t want to leave the entire workpiece machining process to the CAD/CAM system, Tornos developed TISIS CAM in close cooperation with Mastercam. This module makes it possible to program complex machining tasks such as the machining of irregular shapes.
It directly creates the large number of program blocks required for this specific operation.
As an integral part of TISIS, the TISIS CAM module is able to unite the best of both worlds.
Basic programming is done in the ISO editor while complex shapes are automatically generated by TISIS CAM based on the data received from the customer.
TISIS is free of charge for 30 days and can be downloaded through store.tornos.com. Anyone interested in this software is invited to test it.
Do not hesitate to contact your nearest Tornos representation if you want to discover Swiss GT 32 B
and its countless machining capabilities.
www.tornos.com