Horizontal Boring Mills feature live spindles.
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Press Release Summary:
Floor-type Series FT and FTR are designed with cross-ribbed columns and steel runways, resisting deflection and minimizing vibration. Machines offer 787 ipm rapid traverse rates, X-axis travels of 13-53 ft, and Y-axis vertical headstock travel starting at 6.6 ft. Live spindle provides programmable axis for drilling and tapping as well as adding reach for boring operations. Two- and four-speed versions, with spindle diameters of 5-7 in., range from 60-100 hp.
Original Press Release:
Giddings & Lewis Introduces New Line of Floor-Type Horizontal Boring Mills
Fond du Lac, WI-August 2005 - Giddings & Lewis is introducing a new line of floor-type horizontal boring mills. Three models make up the FT and FTR Series.
Headstocks
Both the FT and FTR Series have live spindles. The live spindle is a programmable axis for drilling and tapping as well as adding reach for boring operations. The Z-axis extension capabilities of the live spindle allow the use of standard shorter tools which are more cost effective and can improve the machine's cutting abilities. Contouring heads or feedout tools when used with the live spindle reduce setups and improve cycle times of parts with complex geometries. Standard high-pressure coolant through-the-spindle enhances the cutting process and chip evacuation.
In addition to the live spindle, the FTR Series has a collinear ram. Fabricated from cast steel, the ram adds rigidity for machining operations that require extended W-axis reach on parts too large for an ancillary sliding table. The ram provides an adjustable mounting platform for a variety of attachments. The FTR 3500 has a 400 x 500 mm (15.7 x 19.7) ram. The larger FTR 5000 ram is 500 x 630 mm (19.7 x 24.8 in)
For each of the floor-type boring mill models, there is a choice of spindle power train. Two and four speed versions with spindle diameters of 130 to 180 mm (5 to 7 inches) are available. Depending on the spindle selection, horsepower ranges from 45 to 75 kW (60 to 100 hp) and Z axis travel is 800 to 1250 mm (31.5 to 49.2 in).
All boring mills include the exclusive G&L spindle growth compensation. The Z-axis thermal compensation software dynamically offsets spindle growth, maintaining tight accuracies.
To mitigate ram displacement resulting from variations in ram extension and attachment weights, a hydraulically actuated tension rod system is used. With the Ram Displacement Comp System, the forces applied to the tension rod are adjustable to counteract the static loads of attachments. The system is dynamic to correct for the natural effects of ram extension.
Solid construction produces a rigid, accurate cutting platform
Giddings & Lewis floor-type boring mills are built to stand up to the most demanding machining requirements. Some of the features that make G&L HBMs rigid and durable are the cross-ribbed column construction, wide column and runway way spreads and steel runway fabrication. These design features add structural integrity to resist deflection and minimize vibrations. The resulting rigidity of the cutting platform not only allows heavy metal removal, it is the foundation of the boring mills' accuracy. Contributing to the high degree of accuracy is standard linear scales, thermal compensation and preloaded axis drives. Bidirectional positioning accuracy is 0.015 mm (0.0006 in) and bidirectional repeatability is 0.008 mm (0.0003 in).
Modular design fits machine to the job
The new boring mills are modular in design. In addition to a variety of headstocks, choices include table styles and sizes, floor plates, auxiliary slides, controls, attachments and X-, Y- and W-axis travel options. The modular design lets the customer configure the machine to their specific requirements.
Large capacity
With X axis travels of 4 to 16 m (13 to 53 feet), Giddings & Lewis floor-type boring mills will handle the largest of parts. The standard Y-axis vertical headstock travel starts at 2 m (6.6 ft) with optional travel to 5 m (16.4 ft).
High-performance drive/way system
The hardened and ground preloaded roller guideways used on the G&L horizontal boring mills provide the capacity, friction characteristics, durability and maintainability necessary for high-performance manufacturing. At 20 m/min (787 ipm) rapid traverse rates, the new Giddings & Lewis boring mills reduce cycle times for large part manufacturing. The special geared AC digital drives maintain high torque and stiffness even at the high traverse speeds and feed rates.
The large, zero-backlash ballscrews are hydraulically preloaded adding to the axis stiffness and thrust performance. The X axis features an electrically-preloaded rack and pinion drive system. The drive is a gear-driven design, which produces higher torque and reduces maintenance compared to a belt drive system.
Maintenance-friendly, ergonomic design
The services area was designed using Visual Uptime Management principles which are intended to improve and simplify maintenance and maximize machine and control availability. All services are centralized on a floor level panel. Clear, color-coded labeling indicates types of fluids or gases, direction of flow and normal operating ranges.
Controls
Siemens SINUMERIK 840D, Fanuc 31i and Heidenhain iTNC 530 are among the high-performance control choices offered on the new line of Giddings & Lewis traveling-column boring mills.
Giddings & Lewis Machine Tools' headquarters and manufacturing facility is located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. G&L has an extensive range of horizontal machining centers and boring mills from small 500 mm pallet machines to large traveling column models. The vertical turning line covers lathes with 1250 mm (49 in) diameter tables through 3.7 m (144 in) swings.
