The new Tornos Hydromat (www.hydromat.com) MultiAlpha 6x32 multispindle lathe has a 3-axis independent counter-spindle with five back-working tool positions and integrated independent motor spindles. Tornos says the unit is a `ground-up` re-design and features a 1.260-in.-diameter bar capacity with the work spread over six spindles.

The spindles feature synchronous motors and function independently of the others for cutting RPM, spindle stops and indexing. The spindles can be synchronized in angular fashion, meaning that positioned operations such as eccentric drilling can be performed at several different stations. Because every position has the potential to be used as a C-axis, any positioned transverse milling or drilling operation can be performed at any time on all spindles. Tornos says the advantages to this system include: optimum speed on each position to match the type of machining required, unrivalled capacity for stock removal, great flexibility, `transmit` function, stopping and exceptional spindle acceleration.

Motor spindles are equally flexible on the front-working units. The end units can be fitted with motor quills. Two versions of motor quills are available: the high-performance motor quill delivers high torque starting from its lowest speeds, while the high-speed option retains its same torque rating to high rotational speeds.

The MultiAlpha`s counter-spindle holds the component during the cutoff operation, then presents the workpiece to a tool slide for a number of operations on the back of the component. Operations for the backside of the workpiece can include turning, drilling and milling. The slide can be equipped with five tools in vertical and/or horizontal positions. An independent motor can drive as many as three tools and enables the use of high-speed drilling or other operations. All tool positions have an integrated coolant supply, and fixed drills can have through-the-tooling coolant via a central bore.

The MultiAlpha was developed with a fully integrated palletization system located between the lathe and the electrical cabinet. Large pallets with dimensions to 15.75 in. by 23.62 in. (400 mm by 600 mm) are standard.

The unit is powered by a Fanuc control with Tornos TB Deco programming software. It uses Hirth couplings, temperature controlled high-precision spindles and a base manufactured from a mineral compound.