Choosing a CNC Lathe - Turning Center

[MikeGT40]

I am looking to purchase a CNC Lathe/Turning Center.

Short story, I design and assemble liquid handling systems typically used in testing labs. I have a requirement to machine cylindrical parts which have several holes located on the perimeter of the part. Sample image attached. I do not own a Mill yet and would like the Lathe to perform this operation.

I called several CNC Lathe/Turning Center manufacturers and when I mentioned Live Tooling and the prices seemed to quadruple! Is it possible to machine these holes on the perimeter of the part on a lathe without Live Tooling (I may not understand the definition of Live Tooling, maybe I should be asking for some other type of process)?

Can anyone recommend a machine (I want to purchase new) which would fit my needs and cost less than $45K?
Thanks.

[Guldberg]

I think you got i right, but dont thrust my word alone. You need live tooling to do the holes in the perimeter. With live tooling you need the spindle to be able to position the workpiece precisely and the tooling turret becomes more complex, hence the higher price. Are you going to make millions of parts? Othervise a second manual drilling operation in a jig designed for the purpose might work just as well

[PixMan]

I can't tell from the photo, so tell me what is the maximum diameter you expect to be doing for that type of part? That's the first thing to set; what size machine do you need?

Next, how many to make over what period of time? Any of those holes have to be off-center, or any flats to be milled (as in, would need a Y-axis movement.) What materials ? (Helps determine required HP.) Using bar stock?

If those parts are under 1-1/4" (32mm) a sliding headstock (Swiss-type) machine might be best, and some rather inexpensive ones have live tooling with Y-axis.

[MikeGT40]

Guldberg, PixMan
Thanks for the info.
Most parts have a maximum diameter of 1.5". 60% are aluminum and 40% are titanium. Number of pieces will vary from 1 to 600. All holes on the perimeter are not off-set. Some parts do require machined flats. In most cases bar stock will not be used.
Thanks.

[DareBee]

You will need live tooling to do it in one machine.
I can't imagine you will get a new one for $45k, maybe $90k for a Taiwanese.

[MikeGT40]

Ok. I've spent the last 2 days meeting and talking to various Lathe manufacturers (Okuma, Mori Seiki, Sharp, Mazak, Doosan, Milltronics just name a few) and just came to the realization that I need to increase my budget to buy a 3 axis CNC with live tooling.

[hernando]

Hello,

The part could be done on a lathe with a bar feeder and live tooling. A great part for this set-up. However 45k is a number that will not get you there. You could get an used lathe and do the hole manually in a drill press. This option could fit your budget. Live tool attachments cost between 1800 to 3500 and up. Unless you could justify this expense and the return on investment, drill press will do the job.
A lathe with live tools require a bit of training and know how. Some lathes out there come with conversational programming that could aid but others will require of you learning a CAM software.
Good luck!

[Geof]

Originally Posted by MikeGT40 .....Most parts have a maximum diameter of 1.5". 60% are aluminum and 40% are titanium. Number of pieces will vary from 1 to 600. All holes on the perimeter are not off-set. Some parts do require machined flats. In most cases bar stock will not be used. Thanks.

You need to budget at least $150,000 if you want a lathe with live tooling but for about half this amount you could get a Haas TL1-P and a Haas TM1-P and these would make your parts.

[DSL PWR]

I was in the same boat as you not that long ago. I looked at Haas, Doosan, DMG, Mori, Okuma, and Hyundai-Kia. I looked at everything from a simple 2 axis lathe to a live tooled, subspidle with y axis. The basic lathe starts out 70-100k (yes there are cheaper ones but I'm starting of with a basic platform that is common to the decked out models) then each option is 25-30k. The option prices are very close on all of the brands. So if you want live tools you add 30k, and its about the same for a subsindle and y axis.

The only one that stood out in the pricing is the DMG ecoline. For 10k you get a 6 station live turret. I fell in love with the control at IMTS. The ecoline pricing puts DMG in the Haas and Doosan price range. The regular DMG is up there with Mori.

I was down to 3 machines, a Doosan 240msb(live tool subspindle) 2000y(live tool with yaxis), both were about the same money, and a DMG 310eco with live tools.

Long story short the DMG by the time it would be tooled up and on my floor would have been about 100-120k, and the Doosan would have been 130-145k.

The more I looked at the y axis machines the more I realised you need a specific product to justify the extra money, and you still only get 3-4" of y travel. I know you aren't looking for y axis, but once you get up in price it is sure tempting just to jump in so you have it for some future job.

I currently have a Haas TM-1, and just bought a used 2 axis lathe. It is an off brand (Yang), but has a Fanuc control, and I saw it running production on a Friday, and it was loaded on my trailer the following Monday. It was cheap enough (I spent more on tooling on my 1st order, than on the lathe!) that I bought a new rotary table for my Haas. This will allow me to do everything that a live tooled lathe can do and much more. From what I can figure I should be pretty close on production time with 2 spindles, and some good fixturing on the 4th mill axis, as with a live tooled lathe.

So I can do what I need with 2 machines for about 50k, instead of 150k.

I would (and did) look at 2 machines, and even look at used for your product. 45k might get you what you need if you have time to wait for the right deal, and slowly build up your tooling. How many widgets do you need to make to pay for a 100k upgrade?

Good luck