Heavyweight VMC addition to Storm range

The Storm VMC 1600S weighs in at 14 tonnes, reflecting the structural ribbing that provides high levels of lateral stiffness, good damping characteristics and high orders of thermal stability. It has travels of 1,600 mm by 800 mm by 700 mm in x, y and z, respectively, a table size of 1,700 mm by 815 mm and a table loading capacity of 2.2 tonnes. Saddle and table are both powered at 15 m/min in the x and y axes through 40 mm pre-tensioned ballscrews and, to offset the weight of the heavy duty geared headstock, mechanical counterbalance is rigged inside the column and the Z-axis servomotor directly coupled to its ballscrew. This axis will attain 12 m/min rapid traverse and a cutting feed rate infinitely variable up to 5,000 mm/min. The geared headstock and 22 kW, 6,000 rpm spindle has a BT 50 taper as standard with options of BT 40 and a 10,000 rpm belt-driven variant. A high speed 24 tool, twin-arm toolchanger is standard with an option of a 32 tool chain-type magazine with twin-arm exchange. Toolchange time is within 2.5 secs. Control options include Anilam 6000 M and Fanuc OiMC. Both employ easy to interface conversational programming, G-code or CAM and a host of production and mould and die type features. Heidenhain’s i TNC 530 system is also available on request. Further options to the Storm VMC 1600S include through tool coolant, fourth-axis interface, pallet loading, spindle cooling and choice of belt or screw type swarf conveyor.