This is a Centroid T400 AC-servo retrofit to a specialized ring grooving lathe. I completed three of these machines for a Canadian customer between February 2005 and April 2006.
   
  
  The machines have a stack loader assembly riding on the tool carriage,
  plus a retractable part chute behind the table.
  
Rings are pressed into place by the stack loader; gripped by the hydraulic collet; cut; and ejected into the part chute, all automatically. When the machine senses the stack is low it rotates the loader to the left, moves the table over to the left-side load door; and alerts the operator to load more rings.
Running nearly continuously, each of these machines can cut over 2000 parts per shift.
   
  
  I installed the new control components into the original Wickman
  cabinet.  The servo drive is center left; Control Techniques spindle
  drive is center right; and the PLC I/O unit and supporting power
  supplies are on the cabinet door.
  
  I kept the transformers, circuit breakers, contactors and isolation relays
  from the original control.
  
  
  Copyright © 2007 Marc Leonard
  
  Last updated 14-Feb-2007 MBL