Â鶹´«Ã½

Published

Zayer Sizes Up the Large Machine Market

Republic Lagun Machine Tool Co. is promoting this line of traveling column machines to users in the wind turbine, airframe, oilfield and rail industries.

Mark Albert
Mark Albert
Editor Emeritus, Modern Machine Shop

Share

Leaders-In background
Mikron Corp.
VISIT SHOWROOM

Mikron Corp.

Mikron Machining is the leading partner for high performance machining systems to manufacture complex and precise metal components in high volumes....READ MORE

Featured Content
View More
Featured Videos
View More
QualiChem Inc.
VISIT SHOWROOM

QualiChem Inc.

Featured Content
View More
Featured Videos
View More
CNC Engineering, Inc.
VISIT SHOWROOM

CNC Engineering, Inc.

CNC Engineering, Inc. specializes in enhancing CNC machine tools to boost manufacturing productivity. Our key services include: - CNC Retrofits a...READ MORE

Featured Content
View More
Featured Videos
View More
SMW Autoblok Corporation
VISIT SHOWROOM

SMW Autoblok Corporation

Featured Content
View More
Featured Videos
View More
ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions
VISIT SHOWROOM

ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions

Featured Content
View More
Featured Videos
View More
All World Machinery Supply
VISIT SHOWROOM

All World Machinery Supply

All World Machinery Supply is your one-stop shop for machine tool solutions. Machine Tool Spare Parts | Repair Services | Custom Machine Tool Accesso...READ MORE

Featured Content
View More
Featured Videos
View More
Heidenhain Corporation
VISIT SHOWROOM

Heidenhain Corporation

HEIDENHAIN is a world-leading provider of encoders, machine controls, touch probes, digital readouts and metrology solutions—empowering engineer...READ MORE

Featured Content
View More
Featured Videos
View More
T J Davies, Co., Inc.
VISIT SHOWROOM

T J Davies, Co., Inc.

Since 1965 we have been manufacturing precision metal products in the United States. We are a veteran-founded, woman-led business dedicated to mak...READ MORE

Featured Content
View More

Interest in large machine tools continues to grow in the United States and elsewhere in North America, especially because oversized workpieces are prevalent in the wind turbine, airframe, oilfield and rail industries. One machine tool builder active in these industry segments is Zayer, a company headquartered in northern Spain but represented in the North American market by Republic Lagun Machine Tool Co. (Harbor City, California). Although Zayer specializes in large CNC bridge- and gantry-type machines, it also offers traveling-column models.

 According to Joseph Bezic, president of Republic Lagun, potential users evaluating a large machine should pay particular attention to the configuration of the worktable. That’s because part handling, rather than machining time, is a major factor in the overall productivity of large part processing. The point is to move large parts as little as possible while getting the most out of the flexibility and capacity of the machine’s worktable, Mr. Bezic says.
 
For example, the Zayer 30KCU and 60KCU models, available with five-axis machining capability, are traveling column machines with table configurations that can be customized for the user’s application. In fact, Mr. Bezic says, Zayer’s engineers are adept at customizing tables because most installations of these machines in Europe have involved some degree of customization. One of the main advantages of the traveling-column type machine is that it is possible to incorporate a wide variety of worktable features such as built-in rotary tables, floor plates, right-angle plates and other options. Generally, these machines are configured as floor-type models; that is, the table is level with the surrounding floor surface so that parts can be loaded by forklift or overhead crane.
 
Because pallet shuttles for machines and workpieces of this size are impractical, the ability to divide the worktable into separate machining zones is key to high machine utilization. The builder recommends a table that is sized to enable the establishment of multiple zones. Thus, one zone is always available for machining, while the other zones are occupied with set up and/or tear down procedures. The column of the machine simply moves to whichever zone is ready for production. For safety sake, zone boundaries are protected by laser beams to prevent intrusions in adjacent zones.
 
Of course, as Mr. Bezic is quick to emphasize, volumetric accuracy is especially important in large-part machining because the machine tool is likely to be active throughout its entire work envelope. For this reason, he says, the KCU series of traveling column machines are equipped with a dual-function guideway system with fluidic axis support. These machines are also equipped with hardened and ground box guideways; cylindrical roller packs for the X, Y and Z axes; rack and dual motor-driven pinions on the X axis; ballscrews with double preloaded nuts for the Y and Z axes; optical linear scales on all three lineal axes and refrigeration for the gearbox, ram and spindle head.
 
Machines in this series have an X-axis (longitudinal) capacity ranging from 118 inches to 944 inches (3,000 to 24,000 mm), Z-axis (vertical) capacity ranging from 59 to 196 inches (1,500 to 5,000 mm) and Y-axis (cross) capacity ranging from 49 to 63 inches (1,250 to 1,600 mm). A universal spindle head with 360,000 positions is a standard feature, but head changing capability also is available because the company offers an assortment of heads designed for specific applications. Spindle taper is ISO 50 or BigPlus CAT 50.
 
Mr. Bezic also notes that Zayer has been particularly successful serving the high speed and light rail industries in Europe. The company, he says, has the expertise to guide the manufacturers in America who are anticipating resurgence in intercity and commuter rail lines. This resurgence is in response to energy and environmental concerns. Zayer machines are also well represented among Europe’s wind turbine, ship building, military and aerospace industries.

Related Content

Forkardt Hardinge Swiss Workholding Provides Reliable, Consistent Performance
Medical

Forkardt Hardinge Swiss Workholding Provides Reliable, Consistent Performance

The company’s Swiss collets are designed to securely hold parts without marring surfaces, minimizing vibration to ensure smoother machining, enhanced accuracy and extended tool life.

Read More
SW North America Twin-Spindle Machining Center Enables Fully Autonomous Operation
Aerospace

SW North America Twin-Spindle Machining Center Enables Fully Autonomous Operation

Eastec 2025: The BA 322i is well suited for machining complex aerospace components that require tight tolerances and high-quality finishes.

Read More
The Role of Surface Finishing in Modern Manufacturing: Trends and Best Practices
Aerospace

The Role of Surface Finishing in Modern Manufacturing: Trends and Best Practices

You’re attending IMTS to advance your business. Regardless of your role in the manufacturing process, considering how your parts will be finished is crucial. This article can help you understand trends in surface finishing and better communicate with your finishing partners.

Read More
Shop Tour Video: Inside an Aviation & Defense Machine Shop

Shop Tour Video: Inside an Aviation & Defense Machine Shop

Grants. Software. Process consolidation. These three pillars can bring new life to a shop, enabling it to take on more complex jobs with faster turnarounds. In this shop tour, find out how MSP Manufacturing has used each pillar to solidify itself as a reliable partner for defense and aerospace companies.

Read More

Read Next

AMRs Are Moving Into Manufacturing: 4 Considerations for Implementation
Automation

AMRs Are Moving Into Manufacturing: 4 Considerations for Implementation

AMRs can provide a flexible, easy-to-use automation platform so long as manufacturers choose a suitable task and prepare their facilities.

Read More
Machine Shop MBA
Top Shops

Machine Shop MBA

  Making Chips and Modern Machine Shop are teaming up for a new podcast series called Machine Shop MBA—designed to help manufacturers measure their success against the industry’s best. Through the lens of the Top Shops benchmarking program, the series explores the KPIs that set high-performing shops apart, from machine utilization and first-pass yield to employee engagement and revenue per employee.  

Read More