Published 10/11/2012

High-Performance Machining Center for Graphite Components

Available from Absolute Machine Tools, the TMV-510G machining center is engineered for high speed, efficient production of precision graphite electrodes and similar items.

Edited by: MMS Editorial Team

Available from Absolute Machine Tools, the TMV-510G machining center for graphite components from Tongtai Machine & Tool Co. is engineered for high speed, efficient production of precision graphite electrodes and similar items. The fixed-column/moving-table-type machine features a high-performance, 20,000-rpm, direct-drive spindle that is oil-cooled for thermal stability. A 20-station, high-speed, arm-type automatic tool changer (ATC) is said to produce tool changes in 0.8 sec. and chip-to-chip times of 1.9 sec.

X-, Y- and Z-axis travels measure 20" × 14.2" × 11.8" (500 × 355 × 295 mm). The worktable area measures 23.6" × 13.6" (590 × 340 mm), and the footprint is 95" × 55" × 90" (2,375 × 1,375 × 2,250 mm). The standard spindle features a FANUC Alpha 2/20000i 5-hp, high-torque motor and a Big Plus 30 (BBT-30) dual-contact spindle taper for added rigidity. The machine’s Meehanite cast iron frame and linear slideways provide further rigidity and precision.

The double-nut preloaded design of the machine’s Class-3 25-mm (1"-) diameter ballscrews enables a standard rapid traverse rate of 1,890 ipm (47,250 mm/min.) in all axes. An absolute pulse coder (APS) servo system minimizes non-productive time by enabling the machine to start any time, from any position.

The arm-type ATC keeps tools away from contamination and out of the workzone, and a standard full cover on top of the machine contains dust. A Donaldson Torit DFO 2-2 1200 CFM dust collector evacuates dust from the machine, and automatic shakers clean the filters and deposit the dust into a hopper. The machine’s FANUC 31iM-B control offers a standard conversational Manual Guide i Fanuc shopfloor programming system. The control also facilitates high-speed 3D machining with a package that includes 600-block look-ahead capability and a data server with Ethernet connection for mass program storage.