To continue driving down cost per part, Mori Seiki has developed an entirely new series of lathes that provides milling capability as robust as a machining center.

Engineered from the viewpoint of workpieces and tools, the new NL Series of lathes focuses on increasing rigidity and minimizing thermal displacement as a means of improving precision and productivity.

The NL Series features a milling motor inside the turret directly coupled to the milling tool. This patent-pending design drastically reduces the transmission losses and inherent vibration associated with competing designs, which use a series of gears and belts to provide a milling feature. When compared to conventional models, the direct-coupled milling motor reduces tool spindle acceleration time by 2/3 and diminishes vibration and noise by 1/2.

Mori Seiki is simultaneously introducing 30 new models in the NL Series, a testament to Mori Seiki’s 450 design engineers. Models include 6", 8", 10", and 12" chuck versions with the longest maximum turning length reaching 49.6" on certain models. The NL3000 handles bar work as large as 3.54" in diameter.

To take into account the turret’s role as a tool holder, emphasis was placed on its rigidity and precision. A new tooling interface maintains a positioning repeatability to ensure consistency among setups.

To further reduce vibration while cutting, the machines employ a rigid triangle structure in the bed, the spindle and the tailstock. The box way construction further reduces vibration and increases rigidity, resulting in greater cutting depth and feed rates, and reducing cycle times by up to 50%.

The machines feature a digital tailstock in which a servo drive provides all movement. This allows position and thrust to be controlled from the operation screen rather than manually setting them. Additionally, by adjusting the tailstock from within the part program, setup time can be reduced by up to 50%.

Machines in Mori Seiki’s NL Series increase accuracy by minimizing the effects of heat on machining operations. Specially placed coverings isolate heat radiating from the oil controller and hydraulic unit, redirecting heat to the outside of the machine. Heat transfer devices also control the heat emanating from the headstock and servomotors. The design of the turret with a direct-coupled milling motor also reduces heat generation to 1/15 of the conventional model.

The NL Series machines feature MAPPS II, Mori Seiki’s second generation control system. MAPPS II is the most feature-rich and reliable control in the industry.