The 'Lights Out' unmanned turning package developed by Colchester for its Tornado range of lathes is now available on the latest two-axis 220 and three-axis 220M as well as existing A-Series. machines

The 'Lights Out' unmanned turning package developed by Colchester for its Tornado range of lathes is now available on the latest two-axis 220 and three-axis 220M as well as existing A-Series machines in A50 and A90 specifications. The Lights Out package comprises the Colchester developed MBF 1000 integrated bar feed, swarf conveyor, tool monitoring and sister tool replacement, in-process gauging and production scheduling software in a purpose-developed competitively priced unit. With the four Tornado models, bar up to 65mm can now be machined.

In the case of the new three-axis 220 M, with its six driven tool positions and full C-axis spindle with disc brake clamping, users can now incorporate certain machining centre or drill spindle operations such as drilling and tapping or milling into a single unmanned turning operation.

This capability creates all the advantages of lead time reduction and lowered tooling costs by making parts out of bar instead of forgings, castings or billets.

The MBF 1000 bar magazine is fully integrated with the Fanuc control on the Tornado range.

It has no mechanical stops, takes minutes to change over from say hexagon to round bar and programming is quick by using dialogue input.

As each bar is measured, the onboard software computes the number of pieces from each bar and recalculates when to stop the automatic machining cycle.

The production schedule software provides direct on-machine control over batches while the tool monitoring, based on axis torque loading, will initiate sister tool replacement from the 12 station VDI turret or stop the machine if the problem is deemed more serious.

Through the on-board Renishaw LTO2 optical transmission probe, workpiece accuracy can be monitored, tool offsets automatically updated or the machine stopped, if a problem is detected.