TONGTAI TD SERIES MULTI-TASKING TURNING CENTER

With rising energy costs and strict international environmental laws, equipment efficiency is a key factor that can influence the production costs. By this trend, the latest machine tools not only need to satisfy the requirements of high speed and high precision, but also need to pursue the goals of high efficiency and environmental protection. In recent years, Tongtai has worked hard on developing products which are environmentally friendly. Furthermore, energy saving accessory products are a primary concern to this manufacturer.

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Rigidity is better than the past                                             

All components are made of high quality cast-iron, while due to its excellent design, the structure decreases the influences of distortion and vibration. In addition, by applying Finite Element Analysis (FEA) the structure is optimized satisfying the requirements of high dynamic rigidity and stability.

Inheriting the outstanding machine rigidity from TB series, the TD series is the brand new multi-tasking turning center with single power turret which is standard equipped with 12 tool stations and linear Y axis to process milling functions. In addition, the 16 tool stations turret and sub-spindle are also available for more complex machining processes, while helping to reduce labour costs and increasing floor utility.

Spindle/Sub-spindle CS axis with brake unit

The CS axis is fed back by a rotary encoder with multi-points positioning function. The minimum indexing increment of 0.001 degrees allows various machining needs with different angles.

With synchronous temperature control, the spindle cooler prevents sub-spindle from thermal distortion. This ensures high precision machining for long-term operation.

75 degree machine bed structure

Different from the 90 degree slant bed on TB series, the TD series features a 75 degree slant bed design. It not only keeps the advantages of excellent chip disposal and accessibility, but also lowers the machine’s gravity center, while enhancing the entire structure rigidity.

Linear Y axis structure

The TD series features a symmetrical saddle design, while the X/Y/Z axes are perpendicular to each other with a real linear Y axis. It allows servo compensation on each axis to optimize the positioning accuracy.

Different from the virtual Y axis, the real Y axis has excellent straightness and positioning accuracy which is able to ensure high machining quality. With a highly rigid sliding carrier design, the TD series has outstanding machining capability.

For more information please contact PBS Machine Tools – Tel: 011 914-3360.

TONGTAI MACHINE & TOOL COMPANY COMMITS TO ADDING ECONOMIC VALUE FOR THE END-USER

By Paul Savides, Managing Director, PBS Machine Tools

When a company makes a product like a CNC Lathe, that may be considered homogeneous i.e. with few differences from that of a competitor, it is very easy to offer some simple features or add-ons that give it a perception of value for money.

Adding value can be done in many ways but adding true Economic Value must be innovative. At Tongtai, we have spent many years improving our products so that we can match the high pace of today’s production requirements and at the same time meet the challenges of competitiveness that manufacturers face as they strive to survive.

The first step for Tongtai was to use available technology to keep costs contained and even use it to get prices marginally down without affecting quality. This has allowed us to keep the same reliability of our existing CNC lathe ranges that have been in 24/7 production in South Africa for more than 20 years. Enabling the upgraded ranges with technologies like Direct Torque Control have allowed Tongtai to improve the serviceability of all machines and at the same time, improve their overall efficiency resulting in major cost savings for the end-user.

This is done by extending tool life and reducing cycle time while at the same time maintaining accuracy of parts within very tight limits.

In a practical example at a user in South Africa we experienced the following:

This also means overtime and rework due to low output is avoided, eliminating late deliveries, unhappy customers and waste accordingly, driving down end-user costs.

Integrated Root Cause Analysis

To understand what a problem is, how to record it, how to analyse it, how to solve it and how to apply it, is truly what adding value really means.

The more refined machines become the more important it is for maintenance staff to keep them in production, this is why we have incorporated into the machines rudimentary systems that enhance end-user productivity and competitiveness. Enabling the many new technologies, developed by Tongtai, and incorporating them into our new machines takes care of all the SPC, Lean Six Sigma, Overall Equipment Effectiveness and Lean Manufacturing processes.

This is all achieved through a range of Intelligent Sensors and Software developed by Tongtai including:

• Vibration sensors
• Machine levelling sensors
• Pressure sensors
• Temperature sensors
• Current sensors
• Intelligent tool holders
• Tool wear monitoring
• Real-time cutting monitoring
• RFID reader for tool identification
• Integrated communication channel linking all sensors to an Industrial PC

By capturing and interpreting these parameters, we can check and diagnose the condition against the known machine and cutting tool characteristics to ensure the machine continues to produce and keep its quality of performance.

All this helps with process optimisation, improves machine operational performance and reduces unexpected or unplanned machine stoppages.

For more information please contact PBS Machine Tools – Tel: 011 914-3360.

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