Published 8/11/2023

WFL Milling Machines Feature Smart Sensors, Control System

M50 Millturn / 3,000 mm and M80X Millturn / 4,500 mm turning-boring-milling machines come equipped with a grinding attachment and a vibration-damped Silent ToolsTM Plus boring bar.

Edited by: Chris Pasion

Managing Editor, Modern Machine Shop | Production Machining

Photo Credit: WFL Millturn Technologies Inc.

WFL Millturn Technologies’ M50 Millturn / 3,000 mm and M80X Millturn / 4,500 mm turning-boring-milling machines feature a new design and are equipped with Siemens’ Sinumerik One control system.

The M80X Millturn with 4,500-mm machining length and 1,000-mm turning diameter is equipped with a grinding attachment and a vibration-damped Silent ToolsTM Plus boring bar.

WFL turning-boring-milling machines now feature Sinumerik One from Siemens with its new user interface. The integrated Simatic S7-1500F PLC enables PLC cycle times that are said to be up to 10X faster than its predecessor. Boasting a selection of innovative technology functions, Sinumerik One optimizes the machining speed, contour accuracy and machining quality. Sinumerik One is designed to make machine tools faster and more productive, flexible and efficient.

The integration of smart sensors enables detailed tool information and machining states to be called up on the machine control system, a tablet or a PC. Various sensors installed in the Silent ToolsTM Plus boring bar provide data on load, temperature, deflection and more. Signals are transmitted via Bluetooth so that the machine can respond interactively to a defined trigger event. The process can be visualized and documented, making it fully transparent. The use of an inductive coupling to power the sensors instead of an accumulator is a completely new feature.

In combination with the iControl process monitoring system, the operator can achieve high levels of protection for the machine, workpiece and tool to ensure reliable and economical production, especially in prototype production or for small batch sizes. Up to 16 process signals can be monitored and configured by WFL at the factory according to the machine equipment and displayed live on the controller’s display. Important process signals are the forces or torques of the NC axes and spindles, but also the signals sent by the sensors integrated in the Silent ToolsTM Plus boring bar.