Murata Machinery Single-Spindle Turning Center Maximizes Productivity

Murata Machinery USA (Muratec) announces the North American launch of its MSR60, a single-spindle CNC turning center with Y-axis milling capabilities for multitasking machining. With a directly coupled 8,000-rpm live tool spindle motor, this machine is engineered to deliver high-speed precision, a compact footprint and maximum productivity through integrated built-in gantry loader automation. This machine is introduced alongside 10 machine demonstrations.

The MSR60’s compact design and advanced automation capabilities can enable a space-saving layout that maximizes productivity per unit of floor space. Because it integrates milling and turning, this machine can be used for high-mix, low-volume production environments. Like the MWR120, a front-facing horizontal twin-spindle turning center, the MSR60 introduces Y-axis and milling capabilities on a single-spindle machine.

The MSR60 is a CNC turning center with front-facing 6"/8" chucks equipped with a Y-axis. It has a single 10-station turret, an X-axis stroke of 240 mm, a Y-axis stroke of ±60 mm, a Z-axis stroke of 200 mm and a maximum spindle speed of 6,000 rpm.

The MSR60’s width is 1,555 mm and its depth is 2,350 mm, half the size of the MWR120. It is said to have twice the range of motion or stroke typical for a turning machine of its size.

According to the company, features of Muratec’s MSR60 single spindle CNC turning center include:

• Maximum spindle utilization: Designed with advanced built-in automation, rapid shutter-to-shutter time, reduced spindle acceleration/deceleration and minimized turret index time.
• Efficient gantry loading: The MSR60’s optional gantry loader is said to handle a diverse range of workpiece varieties, enabling unattended cell and system activity. It is also available with a dual gantry loader.
• Compact design: Integrates compact design, advanced automation, oversized NSK guideways and robust Muratec spindles intended to maximize productivity, cutting capabilities and workpiece tolerances in a space-saving layout.
• User-friendly operation: The MSR60 can streamline setup and maintenance to maximize spindle uptime with workholding and turret access. Its standard FANUC 31i control, featuring Manual Guide I, is said to simplify programming and automation setup for rapid NC program creation.

The company says an advantage of its machinery is interconnectivity, which can enable each machine to function both independently and in tandem to provide versatile operational capabilities. The MSR60 single-spindle machine and the MWR120 twin-spindle machine are designed to operate independently or together for prolonged periods.

The MSR60 can also be integrated with another twin-spindle machine. For instance, if a customer requires three spindles for optimal cycle time, they could use two general turning machines for the initial spindles and an MSR60 for the third spindle that requires a Y-axis. This setup can offer a cost-effective solution, maximizing productivity while minimizing unnecessary expenditures.

“The MSR60 enhances Muratec’s overall single-spindle lineup, combining processing capabilities within a compact design tailored for job shops just starting their automation journey,” says Jeff Kalmbach, general manager, machine tools division, Murata Machinery USA. “With the introduction of milling and Y-axis functionalities previously unavailable on a single spindle turning machine, the MSR60 enables extreme multitasking, creating complex shapes from raw materials to finished products without the need for changeovers. This innovation addresses the industry’s near-constant labor shortage and eliminates the necessity for secondary operations, streamlining production and boosting efficiency.”