Citizen Open House reveals novel, productivity boosting technology

The company was showing off four new machines, prompting Darren Wilkins, UK & European sales manager, to point out on Thursday morning that while any one of these machines would warrant an Open House, with four it made the event extra special and had attracted what looked like a record attendance for the company over the three-day event, with final number not yet in. The four new machines were the sliding-head Citizen M32-Vlll and the Citizen L20X, and the fixed-head Miyano's ABX 64SYY and a Miyano BNA 42DHY. Key features highlighted by Mr Wilkins for the M32-VIII sliding-head machine are the B-axis tool system, the additional Y-axis on the upper slide servicing the counter-spindle, reduced energy consumption via regenerative technology on the main and counter-spindle, as well as through a servo bus sleep mode (like stop-start technology), and its 35 mm bar capability with reduced bar end wastage. Image: The M32 VIII tool layout - B-axis is a novelty for sliding-heads Image: The B-axis is top right Benefits of the B-axis are a reduction in the use of individual angled tools, which frees up turret positions for other tools, plus the ability to interpolate the B-axis with the X-Y platen on which it sits and Z and C-axis of the main spindle. Benefits of the Y-axis on the upper slide means it is possible to deliver more overlap machining on the rear, allowing the lower turret to do more on the main spindle. Regenerative technology can cut energy bills, with this used to power the servo bus or stored in capacitors. The machine's CNC features pages to highlight how much energy is regenerated, while energy spikes in the cycle are also shown graphically, allowing the process to be smoothed to reduce these - such knowledge can be important in keeping a company's total load below a more expensive 3-phase threshold, for example. The servo bus sleep mode shuts off the bus, if the machine is on but not running, cutting 90% of the machine's consumption at idle. This is the first Citizen machine to feature this regenerative technology, but is expected to become a feature on future Citizen and Miyano models, too. All together, Mr Wilkins says the machine offers process benefits (through greater capabilities), faster cycle times (via latest CNC hardware and software) and energy saving (through stop-start and regenerative technology. A machine had already been sold to a small, new-start subcontractor, Machinery was told. The Miyano BNA-42DHY (42 mm bar) has had a second turret added to allow greater over lap machining between main and sub-spindle. Overlap machining was already possible, as both spindles could be worked by the main turret simultaneously - the main turret has X, Y and Z movement. The new turret indexes only, with X and Z motion in the sub-spindle. Mr Wilkins suggests this is effectively introducing Swiss-type machine technology to the fixed-head Miyano. The machine is also small but very stable, it is underlined – the same size as a 20 mm sliding-head, it is suggested. Eleven of these machines have been sold, even before there was one in the showroom to demonstrate, Mr Wilkins reports. The L20X, 20 mm sliding-head features a Y-axis in the counter-spindle; more typically, the Y-axis is in the tool slide that works the counter-spindle, but this compromises rigidity, Mr Wilkins offer, while it is now possible to balance turn or mill on the front spindle – a platen and spindle would be required normally. Importantly, it allows work that would previously have required a higher spec M model to be undertaken on the machine. This means an investment that is £50,000 or more less than might previously have been the required, it is highlighhted. Finally, the ABX 64SYY (64 mm bar), which can also be supplied in 51 mm bar guise and where both can have either two or three turrets, is said to reduce all limitations associated with previous twin-spindle, twin-turret bar machines. Citizen is confident this will be a good seller; in fact five machines or more were sold prior to the machine's arrival in the showroom a few weeks back. Image: A machine without the limitations associated with similar type technology, that's the claim The ABX 64SYY was also being show alongside Citizen's CNC Wizard software – the first Miyano machine to benefit from the low-cost CNC program writing system. Other developments at the Open House included additions to the range of high pressure coolant options, with two LNS systems joining Citizen's own Coolblaster system, plus new standard sward conveyor systems from LNS, too.