WFL M200 Millturn

The M200 can machine shafts up to 10,000 mm (10 meters) between centers, up to 1,100 mm in turning diameter, and up to 15,000 kg in weight. For ship propeller shafts — a primary application — this covers main propulsion shafts for all commercial vessel types, including large container ships and tankers. For wind turbines, this covers main shaft assemblies for turbines in the 5-15 MW class. Custom extended configurations beyond 10 meters are available for specific applications.

Maintaining accuracy on a 10-meter shaft requires managing both geometric accuracy of the machine and workpiece deflection under gravity and cutting forces. WFL's approach includes: precision-ground machine bed sections with volumetric accuracy calibration across the full length; multiple CNC automatic steady rests that provide continuous support at optimized locations throughout the program; real-time thermal compensation through the Siemens 840D sl control; and on-machine probing to verify geometry at key stages. For critical aerospace and nuclear shafts, WFL can integrate laser measurement systems for real-time straightness monitoring.

For a 15,000 kg turbine rotor shaft, the alternative is machining on a large turning center, then transporting and re-aligning the part on a large horizontal boring mill for milling operations. Each transport of a 15-ton forging carries risk of damage and requires specialized rigging. Re-alignment on a second machine introduces setup errors that are difficult to eliminate with heavy parts. The geometric concentricity and angular accuracy of features machined relative to the turning axis can only be fully controlled if all operations occur in the same chucking — which is precisely what the M200 provides.

The M200 supports through-coolant delivery at pressures up to 150 bar (2,175 psi) for BTA deep-hole drilling. High-pressure coolant is essential for effective chip evacuation in deep holes on large forgings, where the chip transport path may be 2-4 meters long. The 150 bar capability allows BTA drilling in materials including steel, titanium, and nickel alloys at depths up to 30x the bore diameter without chip packing.

WFL M200 machines are engineered and built to order, with typical delivery times of 18-30 months from order confirmation depending on configuration, length variant, and WFL's production schedule. Given the parallel requirement for site preparation — reinforced foundation, crane installation, and machine bay preparation — customers typically begin site preparation immediately upon order confirmation to ensure the facility is ready when the machine arrives. Total project timeline from purchase decision to production-ready installation is typically 24-36 months.