In turning large discs, flanges, slewing bearings, wind-turbine gearbox housings, and other rigid ring-shaped parts, long setup times and machine stoppages are major constraints on the capacity and OEE of high-value vertical lathes. With a conventional single-table machine, the spindle must remain idle while operators replace ton-scale workpieces and carry out time-consuming alignment.
Drawing on extensive expertise in large rotary mechanisms and automation systems, PARKSON (Parkson-Wu Industrial Co., Ltd.) introduces the Vertical APC automatic pallet-changing system for vertical lathes. It separates cutting from workpiece loading and positioning, combining high rigidity, repeatable zero-point positioning, and safety interlocks to help large vertical lathes achieve continuous, high-efficiency flexible manufacturing (FMS).
Key Features and Technical Advantages
1. Dual-Station Exchange: Run Machining and Setup in Parallel
- External preparation station eliminates idle waiting: Workpiece loading and unloading, overhead-crane handling and positioning, fixture clamping, and initial measurement are all completed at the external preparation station while the vertical lathe continues machining. This replaces waiting time with productive cutting time.
- Shorter changeover time: Once a machining cycle is complete, the high-speed transfer mechanism quickly exchanges the used and prepared tables. Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) can increase significantly by 35%–60%.
- Reduces operator fatigue and risk: Heavy components are loaded and unloaded at an open external station, with better visibility and ergonomics for overhead-crane operation. This reduces the workplace-safety risks of repeatedly entering the confined machine enclosure.
2. Heavy-Duty, High-Rigidity Guides and Dual-Contact Taper Positioning: Stable Heavy Cutting and Repeatable Accuracy
- High-rigidity, vibration-resistant guide structure: The exchange slide and support base use high-strength cast iron with heavy-duty linear guides or rigid roller assemblies. They maintain excellent dynamic damping even under eccentric loads of several tonnes and heavy cutting forces.
- Dual-contact tapered pins for repeatable positioning: The table interface uses precision-ground, dual-contact locating taper pins and high-rigidity tapered bushings to eliminate small docking clearances and maintain micron-level repeatability over repeated exchanges.
- Multi-point air-gap sensing: High-pressure air clears chips as the table seats, while an air-gap detection circuit verifies full contact. This prevents fine chips from causing a tilted position and ensures the base seats properly after every exchange.
3. High-Clamping-Force Hydraulic Locking and Intelligent Safety Interlocks
- Evenly distributed full-circumference hydraulic draw-in mechanism: Built-in high-pressure cylinders and multi-point heavy-duty disc springs or mechanical-advantage clamping provide clamping forces in the tens-of-kilonewtons range, preventing micro-movement during interrupted heavy turning cuts.
- Closed-loop sensing and safety interlocks throughout the travel: Proximity switches, travel-position sensors, and pressure sensors monitor lifting, slide locking, clamping, and pallet anti-rotation. Electrical and hydraulic interlocks help prevent incorrect operation and collisions.
- Flexible modular design: Standard communications interfaces (I/O and EtherCAT) connect to shop-floor MES, AGV/RGV transport, gantry cranes, and articulated robots to create an intelligent, unattended production line, allowing seamless expansion and layout changes in an FMS line.
Product Specifications
| Item | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Series | PARKSON Vertical APC Automatic Pallet Changer Series |
| Pallet Configuration | Standard dual station (2-pallet shuttle / turntable) / custom multi-station configurations |
| Pallet Diameter | Ø800 / Ø1000 / Ø1250 / Ø1600 / Ø2000 mm (or customized for the machine) |
| Maximum Workpiece Load | 3,000–20,000 kg+ (configured per large or extra-heavy-duty project) |
| Exchange Drive System | Servo motor with precision chain or ball-screw drive, or high-response hydraulic drive system |
| Clamping and Positioning | Precision-hardened dual-contact taper / locating-pin system + air-gap seating detection |
| Clamping Mechanism | High-pressure hydraulic piston + heavy-duty mechanical clamping structure (very high holding force) |
| Repeatability | ≤ 0.008–0.015 mm (depending on travel and pallet diameter) |
| Control and Communication | Compatible with FANUC, SIEMENS, HEIDENHAIN, or independent PLC module |
| Safety Mechanism | Full-travel sensor interlocks, hydraulic pressure monitoring, and mechanical/electrical interlocks for exchange travel |
Best-Fit Applications
- Energy and wind-power equipment: Large wind-turbine gearbox hubs, slewing-bearing rings, generator end covers, and large thick-wall flanges.
- Heavy machinery and construction vehicles: Large-bore hydraulic valve bodies, bearing housings and sleeves, track wheels, and construction-equipment reducer housings.
- Aerospace and rail transportation: High-speed train brake discs, rail axles, and large annular thin-wall aircraft structures.
- Advanced machine tools and in-house components: Large lathe spindle housings, indexing-table bases, and high-rigidity rotary-table modules.
PARKSON Industrial Co., Ltd. is committed to precision, stability, and durability. The Vertical APC automatic pallet changer for vertical lathes supports everything from single-machine automation to linked multi-machine production, and from manual operation to smart manufacturing. It removes the long workholding delays that constrain heavy vertical lathes and helps customers balance processes, increase utilization, and build intelligent automated production cells.
Make Every Exchange an Opportunity to Increase Production.
PARKSON Vertical Lathe Automatic Pallet-Changing System (Vertical Automatic Pallet Changer)
PARKSON Industrial Co., Ltd. | Intelligent Manufacturing Without Limits, Creating the Future