Quicktech T8 Hybrid-Y

The Quicktech T8 Hybrid-Y puts two different tool systems on one slant-bed lathe: a BMT-55 power turret with 12 stations and Y axis, and a gantry slide carrying fixed and live tools on its own X2/Y2/Z2 axes. With a main spindle for 65 mm (2.6 in) bar and a sub-spindle for 42 mm (1.7 in) bar, it is the most heavily equipped of the T8 machines and the only one with a second tool system in its table.

The turret does what a turret does well. It swings 300 mm (11.8 in) over the cross slide, travels 150 mm / 380 mm (5.9 in / 15.0 in) in X1/Z1 and has 80 mm = ±40 mm (3.1 in = ±1.6 in) of Y1. Quicktech says driven tools can be fitted on six of its stations. The gantry adds what a turret lacks: many tools reachable without indexing. Its row reads OD*5 / ID*9 / LiveTool*12, on 470 mm / 380 mm / 280 mm (18.5 in / 15.0 in / 11.0 in) of travel, and the maker describes a free-angle B axis of 360° for angular tapping and drilling.

Because the two systems are independent, the control runs 2 programs simultaneously. Quicktech claims cycle time can be saved up to 45%. How much of that a given part sees depends on whether its operations can be split evenly between turret and gantry; a part that is mostly one long boring cycle gains little.

Spindle power is 11 kW (14.8 hp) on the main and 3.7 kW (5.0 hp) on the sub-spindle, where 5.5 kW (7.4 hp) is the option. Main spindle speed is 3,000 rpm, optionally 4,000 rpm. The control is a Mitsubishi M830S. This is also the largest T8: 4,118 mm long with the chip conveyor and 6,100 kg (13,448 lb).