West Manufacturing News • August 2024 • Expand Machinery Expands to Japan

Expand Machinery will have dynamic demonstrations on eight machines at IMTS. With the IMTS show theme this year being “Inspiring the Extraordinary,” Expand Machinery management decided to have its biggest presentation ever to show how far Expand Machinery has advanced in the past 39 years.

New to Expand Machinery is the Japanese designed and built 8-axis GEN TURN CW42MY CNC lathe. This machine provides synchronized part transfer between the dual opposed spindles to complete a part in just one operation. The machine features twin 12-station tool turrets with an independent Y-axis on each turret, and all turret stations can support a driven tool. The 42 mm (1- 5/8”) bar capacity spindles can also be fitted with 6” chucks. A 52 mm (2.0”) bar capacity spindle is also available. The CW42MY will be machining a space shuttle component during the live demonstration of this new CNC lathe at IMTS.

Also from Japan is the new 6-axis single turret GEN TURN C42MYS CNC. This machine also provides synchronized part transfer between the dual opposed spindles to yield a completed part in one operation. The tool turret features a Yaxis and uses a BMT tooling system with enhanced rigidity and alignment features to keep tools on centerline. The 42 mm (1-5/8”) bar capacity spindles can also be fitted with 6” chucks. A 52 mm (2.0”) bar capacity spindle is also available. The FANUC 0i-TF Plus control is featured. The C42MYS demo will be automotive fittings.

Expand Machinery will also be showing the GEN TURN 52GTS twin opposed spindle machine that features two independent gang-tooled cross-slides. The 2” bar capacity 52GTS is faster at tool changes than a twin-spindle twin-turret lathe and is highly effective on less complex workpieces, the company reported. The main spindle and sub spindle machine simultaneously, and both spindles feature a Caxis for limited milling/drilling applications. A Mitsubishi RV-8 (13 kg/28 lbs. total arm load) auto loading robotic system will be integrated with this machine to show the productivity benefits of automation in an affordable turning cell.

The company’s flagship GEN TURN 36CS will be shown with the Mitsubishi M80V control this year, providing even faster toolpath calculations and full CNC control capabilities to maximize the productive capabilities of this 7-axis machine that features one and done machining.

“The overwhelming market acceptance of the GEN TURN 36CS was a major reason for the evolution of Expand Machinery,” said a company spokesperson. “Continuous improvements over the 20-year history of this machine are sure to keep it highly relevant and retain its position as a market leader in the future. The 36 mm (1-3/8 in.) bar capacity machine features 27-tool positions and includes 11-driven tools as standard equipment. While it is a Swiss style machine regarding the tooling layout, it does not use a guide bushing, so there is no requirement to use expensive ground barstock, and the wasted bar remnant is much shorter than that of a true Swiss machine. The rigid casting and the 1,181 IPM rapid rates make the GEN TURN 36CS highly competitive when machining complex workpieces and challenging materials. See the 36CS in action at IMTS producing a shaft for the transportation industry.”

The GEN TURN SL-20Y2 hybrid 20 mm 8-axis CNC Swiss machine will be shown producing a medical bone screw during the show and demonstrating the use of the double Y- and double C-axis capability. This machine features 30 tool positions and includes eight driven tools. A removable rotary guide-bushing is provided so operators can choose whether to machine a part with or without the guide bushing, cutting cost where a guide bushing is not necessary. A cutting oil chiller is provided for thermal growth control. A high-performance Mitsubishi M830 control provides the necessary processing speed to keep all 8-axis positioning optimized to maximize profitability.

For CNC milling applications, the big GEN MILL 5X-24 will be shown machining a propeller component. This machine features a 25.6” diameter wormgear driven tilting rotary table and precision glass scale feedback on the X, Y and Z axes. The 15,000 RPM inline direct- drive beltless spindle is designed with a BIG-PLUS tool connection to maximize rigidity and accuracy. The 60-tool high-speed twin-arm tool changer can hold CAT#40 or BT#40 tooling. An HSK- 63 spindle nose is also available. Rigidity is further enhanced using the heavy-duty roller-bearing way system on all linear axes, which are stiffer than box ways, according to the company. The 5X-24 will be shown with automated load/unload with the Mitsubishi RV-80 robot (80 kg/ 176 lbs. total payload) to demonstrate the most profitable approach to production in this hyper-competitive industry.

For smaller 5-axis work, the GEN MILL 5X-8 will also be at IMTS demonstrating the machining of a medical surgical tool on an 8.3” diameter wormgear driven rotary table. HEIDENHAIN glass scale feedback is provided on all three linear axes. The CAT or BT#40 12,000 RPM spindle features the BIGPLUS tool connection for enhanced accuracy and rigidity. A 30-tool highspeed twin arm tool changer and 1,417 IPM rapid rates increases machine productivity. The standard cross roller-bearing ways feature a greater preload that provides optimal rigidity and positional accuracy, giving operators the rigidity of a box way and the speed of a linear guide. Through-the-tool coolant is supplied at 300 PSI as standard equipment.

Also in the Expand Machinery show booth will be the Ganesh GMV-1F with DVS head manual milling machine that will feature a Newall DRO and power feed motors. A 3-HP variable speed spindle, hard-chrome plated X and Y ways and hard-chrome plated and mirror ground quill are all standard.