German machine tool manufacturer, Spinner Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik GmbH has appointed Kenilworth-based Whitehouse Machine Tools as sole sales and service agent in the UK and Ireland. The agreement was signed at the recent Metav 2012 show in Düsseldorf.
The range of machines includes an impressive line-up of CNC lathes, the most recent of which, a triple turret, twin spindle, turn/mill centre for production work from bar, was launched at EMO 2011. It is equipped with two Y-axes and the twin turret configurations offered can be similarly configured.
Universal lathes in the manufacturer's programme are able to machine parts up to 500mm diameter by 1.5m in length. Production centres with bar magazine for feeding stock up to 3.2m long are also available.
However, Spinner is best known for its small, ultra-precise hard turning lathes – with a significant, loyal user base in the UK. Accuracy figures quoted for machining material up to 65HRC are 0.4µm positioning repeatability and 0.2µm roundness.
The manufacturer additionally builds a range of innovative machining centres. Notable amongst these is a series of compact, 5-axis, vertical spindle models. Within this range are machines having a combination of a 5-axis trunnion and fixed worktables in the same working area.
The machines are available up to 2.5m in X and are capable of six sided metalcutting in two set-ups. Alternatively, if the rotary table is clamped horizontally, it can be used as a fourth axis rotary table in combination with a tailstock for large rotationally symmetrical components or fabrications. Pendulum machining is offered on the larger models.
Other prismatic machining options from Spinner include vertical machining centres with linear guideways and spindles up to 24,000rpm for high speed cutting. There are also heavy-duty VMCs with box guideways and the option of a powerful spindle drive through a gearbox capable of generating 558Nm of torque.
Tim Whitehouse, managing director of Whitehouse Machine Tools, commented: "Spinner is a medium size, family owned company with two factories in Sauerlach, near Munich, producing around 1,200 machines per year.
"We are very pleased to be able to offer this high quality, German-built product range, which has the option of Fanuc, Siemens and Heidenhain controls. A particular strength is the provision of highly capable, turnkey production cells with robotic handling, facilitated by Spinner's own specialist automation company near Stuttgart."
Whitehouse Machine Tools
www.wmtcnc.com
