CNC sliding head automatic lathe has a deep hole drilling facility and a motion control that allows very high speed cutting cycles for relatively simple turning operations.

A defining feature of the new Star SR-20RIII lathe compared with the RII model is its ability to drill a hole down the center of a 20mm diameter bar to a depth of 100mm, using the 3.7kW / 10,000 rev/min main spindle in conjunction with two additional front-facing tools mounted next to the opposed spindle. Another key feature is the Fanuc 300iS CNC with motion control, capable of very high speed cutting cycles for relatively simple turning operations when running programs created and optimised off-line using powerful computer-aided manufacturing software from Star. Conventional ISO programming and computer numerical control is reserved for producing more complex components.

The SR-20RIII will be demonstrated for the first time in the UK at customer launch days to be held at Star Micronics GB's technical centre in Melbourne, Derbyshire, on April 24-26 2007.

Star is also keen to point out that there will be special offers on certain machine models during the three-day event.

In addition, Iscar tooling will feature and Delcam will be making presentations on its Partmaker CAM software.

Managing director, Bob Hunt, is particularly pleased that the Japanese parent company has priced the new 7-axis mill-turn centre at a similar level as the original cost of an SR-20RII, so the additional RIII features are available at almost zero cost.

The specification of the RII has been reconfigured and will be offered alongside the RIII.

Further promoting high productivity are 35m/min rapid feeds in all linear axes, higher than on the RII and equivalent to the fastest machine in Star's range, the SR-10J.

C-axis positioning of the main and sub spindles in 0.01 deg increments is similarly fast at over 9 rev/s.

Despite the RIII's agility, it is a robust machine weighing 2.2 tonnes, capable of achieving very high accuracy and surface finish.

Spindle cooling ensures thermal stability and also contributes to high precision machining.

The working area can accommodate a large number of cutters in addition to the deep hole drills and the usual six ganged turning tools above the guide bush.

They include four front-facing and four rear-facing end-working tools in the main sleeve holder; up to 10 live cross-working stations, some of which may be swapped for more end-working tools or other attachments such as for angle drilling, hobbing or roller burnishing; and an independent, four-spindle back-working unit with live and stationary positions.

The design of a new product is not complete these days without measures to reduce its environmental impact.