Vertical
Turning Lathe CNC Retrofits: Monarch and Niles.
This
is a huge
Monarch Vertical Turning Lathe. This machine is equipped with a live
15hp spindle and a 50hp main spindle. The table is nine feet in diameter.
This lathe is controlled by a Centroid T-400 and is a 3 axis CNC lathe:
X, Z and C. The C axis provides programmable control
over positioning of the spindle in degrees.
The spindle table weighs 5 TONS and has a maximum speed of 3000 rpm.
Another
unique feature of this Monarch is that the X and Z axis are mounted
on a vertical movement slide. This slide allows the machine to adjust
to tall or short sized parts. The slide is also controlled thru the
T-400 using the programmable auxiliary keys.
If that isn't enough, the Monarch is also equipped with a 12 position
automatic tool changer!
Here
you see a classic Niles Turret mill. This machine was used during
WWII to make tank turrets! This machine has two operator stations,
the left side of the machine was converted to CNC using a Centroid
T-400 control. The right side has been left manually operated as originally
equipped. The spindle is 50 Hp and the spindle table is 9 feet in
diameter and spins up to 1000 rpm. The table floats on oil and is
equipped with and encoder for constant surface speed machining. The
M400 is mounted on a stand directly behind the two men in the photo.
Ballscrews
and AC brushless servo drives were added to the X and Z axis on
the left side. The control is mounted on a rolling stand (it is
located behind the tool box in the photos) The upper photo shows
the Z axis at its maximum - travel and the lower photo shows a fixture
being installed to raise the work piece to the height of the cutter.
Both the Monarch
and the Niles are owned by TVA and are used to make power plant
parts. Thanks to CNC Design for the photos.
