Looking at a cnc lathe with a c axis and live milling capabilities

[alloy]

So far no luck getting my 2 axis lathe running. I have a tech coming up in a couple of weeks and hopefully he can fix it.

But in the mean time I'm looking at a lathe with live milling as a alternate plan just in case. Does anyone here have a lathe like this and give me some insight on one?

I've seen lathe with a sub spindle but that's not something I really need, but am open to it. I can do all the work on my fadal vmc, but boring a 7/8" diameter hole 2" deep is best done on a lathe, and a lathe takes some of the load off my mill.

 

[mmcmdl]

Some of those lathes are incredible with what they can do . Have you checked out Youboob ? Titans of CNC have some great videos , I watch them and feel like I should go back to work ...............................................not really .

 

[alloy]

I did see one of their vids on polygonal turning. A lathe I looked at had that feature and I know what a polygon is, I had no clue you could do that on a lathe. A bit much for what I need, or want.

This vid is what I found on a lathe with live tooling.

I have one part I could make much easier with live lathe tooling that would take the load off my fadal somewhat. But I am looking at a used lathe, and the more features it has the more that can go wrong with it in my opinion.

The biggest problem is that I almost have to buy a lathe sight unseen. Just not able to travel anymore to see one. Have to rely on videos of them running to make a decision. Not many available locally.

 

[JimDawson]

I have a Hardinge Conquest 42 with live tooling and a C axis, 1 5/8 spindle capacity.

This part comes out of the lathe just like you see it here, about 4 min cycle time. 303 SS, 0.75 OD


I'm happy to answer any questions

 

[alloy]

I'm wanting to make this part. It starts off as a 2" x 1-1/4" block and I mill it to the 1st pic. Then I put in in my lathe and machine the bore and make the top round OD of it. It's offset turning but if I take it slow it works pretty well.

Then after the lathe op I put it back in the mill and machine the rectangle and drill and tap the hole. The profile of the top on the end is done manually with aviation snips and my belt sander to match the tail housing it goes in.

I'd like to just drop it to 2 operations. the mill and then lathe with the bore and mounting tab and tapped hole on a lathe.

So is a 3 axis lathe with milling able to make the tab like this?

Also if I do get another lathe I need a 2" ID on the spindle.

 

[JimDawson]

You are making my head hurt. That part looks like it should be made in 2 pieces. The tab should be separate from the main body and engage a groove in the main body. I suppose it could be made in a 6 or 7 axis machining center.

I think a lathe to do the turned surfaces then pop it in the mill to make the cutout for the tailshaft clearance.

 

[alloy]

The ID of the part ID is .875. and the OD is 1.125. So a 1/8" wall thickness. I wish I could make the part larger in diameter so I could have some depth for a slot for the tab, but where is goes through the housing there is a reinforcement rib that it already kisses the side of and no way to make it larger. Would compromise the strength of the housing. I have looked at trying to weld the tab on but I'm not that good at tig welding and there is very little room for the weld bead.

The side cutout is done on my manual mill with a hole saw. Takes only a few seconds to to. The open end of the part is done after it's fitted to the housing and is done by hand. In all there are 5 operations including the final hand op. It took me months to work this housing modification out. Scrapped a number of housing and many sleeves. So many things to try and get to work together and several different output shafts to accommodate. But it was worth it, this is my best seller.

And even though Ive got this conversion worked out pretty well and have detailed instructions, there is always someone that will not read the instructions and screws it up. You can lead a horse to water, give him pictures on how to drink the water, and they will still screw it up.

 

[JimDawson]

Have you got a drawing of that part? I can read a step format.

 

[JimDawson]

OK, I think this is the answer. At least it doesn't require a 9 axis horizontal machining center to build. Also uses less material per assembly.

 

[alloy]

Yes much less material. How to attach the the hold down tab without welding?