What types of Screw machines are there and what are the benefits?
There are two main types of automatic screw machine: the Brown & Sharpe or Turret-type and the Swiss-type. Each may have anywhere from 1 to 8 spindles.
The Brown & Sharpe/Turret-type is no longer actively made, but is still run in hundreds of job shops due to its reliability and long life. It is cam-operated.
The Swiss-type is incredibly precise, able to hold tolerances to within a few micrometers. Most Swiss machines have a secondary spindle with live tooling and a guide bushing next to the cutting tools for added rigidity.
A single operator can supervise several different automatic screw machines at the same time, interfering only for setup and changeover. Multi-spindle machines are much faster since each spindle does its work simultaneously and independently. The machines can achieve greater precision than other types of lathes due to their use of a guide bushing and collet, which reduce the space between the workholding and the tool and thus increase rigidity and accuracy.
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Process Description: How does it work?
The screw machine was originally designed for the production of screws, where the bar stock is held firmly in a moving headstock and turned against a fixed cutting instrument. Whether CNC or cam-operated, they will have the following components: base, headstock, hollow work spindle, front tool slide, rear tool slide, and turret. Many will also have an end-finishing tool.
Common Industries:
The automatic screw machine is versatile and is used in virtually all industries, especially for very small or thin pieces. The Swiss-type is widely used by the medical and orthotic industries for precision parts.
Common Processes:
Shafts Pins Knobs Screws Bolts Orthotics Medical device components
Major Screw Machine Manufacturers
Acme Gridley, Browne & Sharpe, Citizen, Conomatic, Davenport, Glidemeister, Hardinge, Index, Miyano, New Britain, Star, Tornos, Traub
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References:
- George Schneider, Jr., Cutting Tool Applications (Farmington Hills, MI: ASM International, 2002).
- James Bralla, Handbook of Manufacturing Processes, 90-91. http://www.thomasnet.com/articles/custom-manufacturing-fabricating/cnc-turning-swiss-machines.
