Single-hit production solutions can reduce cycle times compared with multiple set-ups on several machine tools. UK sub-contractor Morris Engineering says it achieved that in producing a military aircraft gyroscope part from S420 stainless steel bar.

The Biglia B436-Y2.Using a 36 mm capacity Biglia B436-Y2 twin-spindle lathe with two Y-axis turrets, the component is now turned and milled in a 7.5-minute cycle. Previously, the task took 75 minutes on three separate machines - a 3-axis CNC lathe, a CNC mill with a 4th axis and finally a manual lathe to achieve the required surface finish in a face groove. The company says the former production route also required inter-machine handling, so costs associated with extra labor and administering work-in-progress are also saved.

The B436-Y2, delivered in March 2016, is one of two Italian-built Biglia turn-mill centers purchased from UK supplier Whitehouse Machine Tools this year. In January a twin-spindle 465 T3Y3 with three Y-axis turrets was installed.

So instead of having one big lathe producing components from 6-65 mm in diameter, smaller parts up to 36 mm diameter are machined on the B436-Y2. The company says that larger parts go onto the 465 T3Y3. This strategy has the added advantage of deploying two machines rather than one, doubling productivity, and also provides redundancy in case of downtime on one of the machines.