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The trunnion table is a rotary table designed to provide two additional axes to the 3-axis machine tools and increase the positioning accuracy. It is a very compact yet rigid accessory for modern CNC machining centers.
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The trunnion table is designed to provide additional 2 axes to the 3-axis machine tools and increase the positional accuracy, which is a very compact yet rigid accessory for modern CNC machining centers. A trunnion type indexer is typically made from heavy-duty cast iron, providing maximum rigidity and quick rotation that is free of backlash. It is available for accurate machining operations like milling and drilling, which is suitable for medium to large applications.
Similar to 4th axis indexers, which is added onto the vertical machining center, in general, the tilting axes of trunnion tables upgrades the capability of cutting multiple sides of the intricate part simultaneously, the positional accuracy, the repeatability, and also productivity with a full 360° rotation. It usually comes with work-holding devices like machine vises, chucks, sub-plates, and also spacers. As for the power source and control system of this work holding device, there are manual, pneumatic, hydraulic and also computerized types in the market.
Trunnion tables rotational axes for various CNC machining centers enhance the productivity and surface properties of the intricate machining applications. These features make them highly sought-after accessories for machinining in aerospace, shipbuilding, automotive industry and more.
Different from the integrated 5 axis machining center, adding the high-performance rotary positioning technology, the trunnion rotary table can achieve the 5-axis machining operations with less cost and simple installation, expanding the available work of the general 3-axis machine tools. The structure is considered as the “3+2 axes machining”.
The trunnion platter upgrades the machining center by adding the rotational axes, or tilting axes, to the original three linear axes, which are known as the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis. The X-axis on a machining center is the linear direction where the column travels along, which is typically the left-to-right direction in a VMC. The Y-axis is aligned with the path the workpiece moves along from front to back. The Z-axis is typically aligned with the main axis of the machine tool; it is vertical in a VMC.
A trunnion-type model offers the rotational axes around the X-axis and the Z-axis, achieving the 3+2 machining technology and high-end accuracy and productivity of CNC machines. However, before adding one to your machine tool, you should check if the CNC system of the 3-axis machine can accommodate the controlling of simultaneous 4- or 5-axis machining operations.
On the other hand, the 5-axis machines that have integrated tables or rotary work holding tools are also advantageous to ensure simultaneous 5-axis machining with a simpler setup. Although the acquisition cost of 5-axis CNC machining centers is much higher than adding an external accesory, they still have their advantages.
For example, the 5-axis machine allows cutting tools that have standard lengths, reducing the costs relative to tool turnover and insert replacement, increasing the feed speed. Also, the high accuracy of the 5-axis machining operations results in fewer scraps as well as less waste. The easier setup can reduce the time and effort of the user and human interference of the complex process.
:: Read more: What Are 4th and 5th Axis CNC Rotary Tables?
In the turning or milling machine, whether the spindle with the cutting tools is locked or not, the rotating trunnion table is used to turn the symmetrically round parts under a predetermined high speed. The workpieces are mostly large aerospace, energy industry components, or other medium to heavy-duty applications. Some CNC machines that leveraged the two rotational axes at once, which adds tilting movement to spin, can let the tools get further closer to the surfaces of the parts. It offers a stable plane for heavy workpieces to rest.
The open working area translates the power to a large range of movement for the trunnion table, providing fully 360° rotation. The wider the range of the rotational movement, the easier it is to operate the jobs, permitting much more high performance and rapid turning or milling of intricate contours. To provide high speed and high turning force during mill-turn operations, the trunnion rotary table used in the mill-turn machines will require drives that supply higher torque such as a 4,000-Nm torque drive to complete the tasks.
For starters, since it provides exceptional rigidity and flexibility for the machining center with the extra rotary motion, the machines can allow shorter and more hard cutters, which are produced with aggressive parameters.
These tooling options can upgrade the surface finishes, tool life and also reduce the cycle time. As for the trunnion table itself, it typically has heavily ribbed cast iron construction, making it durable and rigid to bear the vibrations and repeated operations in long-term use.
When it comes to the simple setups and installation, trunnion type models in the metalworking environment are designed to be flexible, which can be simply bolted onto a wide range of CNC machinery, allowing the user to cut on multiple sides of the parts for mid-range productions. The fast setups and ease of operations for precise 5-axis turning, milling, drilling and other machining tasks provide the solution to significantly upgrade the productivity of the shop in a short time.
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