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A radically different automatic lathe

December 2010

To combine original ideas with proven technology solutions to shorten time to market;offering already perfectly reliabe innovative concepts: what a powerful idea. Perfect example of this approach, the WinFlexTurn2 automatic lathe presented by Emissa. This unique machine works up to 6 parts simultaneously. Sensation at the AMB in Stuttgart and then in Prodex in Basel when the machine was presented! Meeting with an industrial that never stops, Mr. Pierre Boschi, Director of Emissa S.A.

If high precision turning has greatly evolved since 1880, significant changes in technology have been quite rare. First there was single spindle lathe, then in the sixties multispindle reached the market. This allowed the production of relatively simple parts in large series. In the 1980s, the NC control arrived to bring flexibility both on single and multispindle. In the 2000s a Swiss constructor emerged with a virtual control which compensated for relatively slow embedded processors in machines. To summarize, in more than 100 years, we’ve seen very few rupture innovations. Today Emissa presents an automatic lathe with a radically new concept. It operates as a single spindle lathe but works simultaneously on three bars in operation and three in counter-operation.

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New toolholders system Cutting three bars of material simultaneously with tools mounted on a same toolholder head, the possibility of setting (and pre-setting) is of paramount importance. Mr. Boschi says: "We developed a new system of toolholder cartridge that allows to quick change and fine tune tools on the machine using a simple micrometric screw" .This new patented system is compatible with all standard tools of the market. The result? Easy tooling adjustment and user-friendliness.

Simplicity In term of principle, there is nothing to explain to an operator used to work with a single spindle machine. It’s the same but triplicated. Three bars are loaded in three spindles and three counter spindles can take the parts to work on the other side. Programming is carried out as on single machine. Depending on the types of parts to perform, it is conceivable to have several set up mounted simultaneously on the machine (with up to 100 tools, comfort is important), thus change over can be performed in a wink. Recovery of machined parts is made through a triple system recovery device which "sorts" the parts according the spindle used. It is an asset in term of SPC.

Result? Cycle time divided by three The power of processors embedded in NC machines is more or less identical everywhere and productivity depends no more on the speed of computation. Usually we can earn milliseconds by kinematic differences, shorter toolpaths or a different distribution of machining operations. It is no longer the machine that makes the difference but the ability of the operator to achieve a more efficient operation sequence. The differences are often very small.

With its new concept, Emissa offers a solution which reduces machining time by three. It is no longer a "small difference" and users comparison are easily done.

Emissa S.A. Leg-Ducommun 18 CH-2400 Le Locle Tel. + 41 (0) 32 933 06 66 Fax + 41 (0) 32 933 06 60 [email protected] www.emissa.com

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