• Easy to use Constant Surface Speed Spindle Control.
• Superior surface finishes achievable.
• Improved tool life through the use of optimum cutting speeds.
• Machine Dial Reading eliminated-fewer errors-less scrap.
• No need to stop the machine to measure the part-faster cycle times.
• Easy to use Counter System increases operator skill level-improved productivity.
• Precision Glass Scales directly measure the slide-way positions with a higher machine accuracy than machine dials. This reduces measuring errors, scrap rates, inspection requirements and improves machine accuracy.
• Improved productivity gives a very fast machine payback period.

Heidenhain, the worlds leading manufacturer of digital readout systems, has exclusively engineered their VRZ 739 (2-Axis) and VRZ 779 (3-Axis) DRO systems to Clausing/Colchester's specification requirements to give a very easily operator settable, constant surface speed capability.

This option provides a quantum leap in productivity over conventional engine lathes by automatically controlling the spindle speed during machining. This also allows high performance tooling such as ceramic to be used to utilize very high cutting speeds during finishing operations to give productivity gains of up to 30% over conventional geared headstock lathes.

With a conventional engine lathe much time is lost in changing headstock gear ranges to obtain the optimum cutting speed. In practice operators choose a mean speed to minimize the number of gear changes, which gives a lower than optimum cutting speed resulting in lost production time. For finishing and screwcutting operations it is necessary to change the headstock gearing again to get the best compromise in spindle speeds losing more production time. This type of practice does not readily allow the use of higher performance carbides and ceramic.

Clausing/Colchester VS Lathe with CSS Option

The CSS option on the Clausing/Colchester VS Lathe allows the optimum cutting speed to be selected which shows a 20% saving on rough turning time over a conventional lathe. With finishing operations CSS allows much faster culling speeds to be used than with conventional engine lathes. This gives an average saving on finishing operations of up to 30%. Combined with much less non productive time when selecting fixed speeds for operations such as screwcutting the CSS capability of the Clausing/Colchester VS gives a typical overall saving in the order of 25 to 30% over other machines.

Press the "CSS" key to prepare for selling data, the RED LED comes on and the GREEN LED flashes.

Use the spindle speed control to set the maximum required spindle speed in CSS mode.

Press the "RPM MAX" key to set the maximum spindle speed constraint, the RED LED goes out.

Position the tool to the required starting position for cutting using the X Axis position readout.

Set the spindle speed to give the optimum surface speed for the diameter in Step 4.

Press the "CSS ENT" key, the GREEN LED goes out, CSS mode is now active and the spindle speed will increase and decrease as the cross slide is moved in and out.

To exit CSS mode, turn down the spindle speed control to zero and press the "CSS" key again.

· Rugged Diecast Aluminum Housing.

· Splashproof moving keyboard with rubber sealing membrane giving excellent tactile feedback.

· Through molded key symbols do not wear off with continuous use.

The 3 Axis Counters (VRZ 770 & VRZ 779) can display either saddle or topslide position together or separately. With separate displays the position of Z and Zo may refer to separate datum points, although the datum point of the topslide Zo will be changed when the saddle axis Z is moved.

When the coupled display is selected the position of both Z and Zo are added, taking account of this relative sign so that the absolute position of the tool is shown relative to the workpiece datum.

Either Radius or Diameter cross slide position can be displayed so that variations in drawing dimensioning can be accommodated without having to make calculations.

Up to 4 selectable tool position offsets can be stored (7 tool offsets are available with the non-CSS version). This eliminates the need for pre-set tooling and reduces set-up times considerably. The Spindle Speed is automatically adjusted in CSS when a new tool pre-set is selected.

1. Mounting block with cable.  The scanning unit has an internal coupling that takes care of misalignment avoiding measuring errors.
2. Scale unit aluminum housing with DIADUR glass-scale.
3. Installation bracket with elongated holes for easy and quick fitting.
4. Flexible, resilient sealing lips protect the scale and scanning carriage against dust, chips and coolants.
5. Armoured cable for protection against chips and aggressive coolants.

The scale grating carries a separate track which has several reference marks varying by a defined rule. These reference marks establish a Semi Absolute Encoding system on each axis which means that there is no need to set up datum points each time the Digital Readout System is turned on. The datum points are re-established after a minimum traverse of 20mm.

This feature considerably reduces set up time because individual tool preset values are retained when the Readout System is powered down.

 
• Rugged Diecast Aluminum casing
• Splashproof Moving Keyboard with Tactile Feedback
• Through Molded Key Symbols
• Quasi Absolute Encoding System
• 4 Selectable Tool Pre-sets-VRZ 739 & VRZ 779 counter Units. (VRZ 730 & VRZ 770 counter Units have 7 Tool pre-sets).
• Distance to go Display
• Switchable Radius/Diameter Display for cross Slide
• Inch/Metric conversion
• Absolute/Incremental Display
• Linear Machine Axis Error compensation + .0012"/Ft. (+/- 0-99.999 microns/meter)
• Shrinkage Factor Compensation + 0-.0012"/Ft. (+/- 0-99.999 microns/meter)
• Display Range +/- 9999.9995ins ( +/- 999999.99mm)
• Display Resolution 0.0005ins or 0.01 mm
• Separate or Coupled (sum or difference) display of the Saddle (Z) and Topslide (Zo) movement (VRZ 770 & VRZ 779 Counters only)

 
• Totally enclosed glass scales Heidenhain Type L5603C (Z Axes)-Type L5303C (X Axis)
• Scale Type-Heidenhain DIADUR grating
• Grating Period-20 microns
• Accuracy-+/- 10 microns
• Reference Marks-Distance coded reference marks at 20mm intervals
• Maximum possible Traverse Speed 48m/min (157ft/ mm)
• Class of Protection 1P53 (1EC529)
• Light Source-Long Life pre-focussed miniature lamp 5v/0.6W
• Scanning Elements-Silicon Solar Cells
• Permissible Ambient Temperature Range 0 to 50⁰C (32 to 122⁰F)
• Permissible Relative Humidity-Max 75%

 
• Maximum RPM pre-set
• Constant Surface Speed Control of Spindle Speed
• Spindle Speed Potentiometer Interlock
• Gear Range Interlock

 
• 2 Axis Display (X & Z Axes)-Heidenhain VRZ 730
• 3 Axis Display (X, Z & Zo Axes)-Heidenhain VRZ 770
• 2 Axis Display (X & Z Axes) with CSS Control-Heidenhain VRZ 739
• 3 Axis Display (X, Z & Zo Axes) with CSS Control-Heidenhain VRZ 779