Whitehouse Machine Tools picks up Spinner agency

Spinner's range of machines includes a comprehensive line-up of CNC lathes, the most recent of which, a triple-turret, twin-spindle, turn-mill centre for production work from bar, was launched at EMO 2011. It is equipped with two Y-axes and the twin-turret configurations offered can be similarly configured. (Video shows TD series three-turret/Triplex machine) The company's universal lathes can machine parts up to 500 mm diameter by 1.5 m in length. Production centres with bar magazine for feeding stock up to 3.2 m long are also available. However, Spinner is best known for its small, ultra-precise hard-turning lathes - there being a significant, loyal user base in the UK. Accuracy figures quoted for machining material up to 65 HRC are 0.4 micron positioning repeatability and 0.2 micron roundness. The manufacturer additionally builds a range of machining centres. Notable amongst these is a series of compact, 5-axis, vertical spindle models. Within this range, machines can feature 5-axis trunnion and fixed work tables in the same working area. These machines are available with up to 2.5 m in X and are capable of six-sided metalcutting in two set-ups. Alternatively, if the rotary table is clamped horizontally, it can be used as a 4th axis rotary table in combination with a tailstock for large rotationally symmetrical components or fabrications. Pendulum machining is offered on the larger models. Other prismatic machining options from Spinner include vertical machining centres with linear guideways and spindles up to 24,000 rpm for high-speed cutting. There are also heavy-duty VMCs with box guideways and the option of spindle drive through a gearbox capable of generating 558 Nm of torque. Tim Whitehouse, managing director of Whitehouse Machine Tools, said: "Spinner is a medium size, family owned company with two factories in Sauerlach, near Munich, producing around 1,200 machines per year. "We are very pleased to be able to offer this high quality, German-built product range, which has the option of Fanuc, Siemens and Heidenhain controls. "A particular strength is the provision of highly capable, turnkey production cells with robotic handling, supported by Spinner's own specialist automation company near Stuttgart."