DMT Drehmaschinen GmbH of Lörrach, in the far south-west corner of Germany, manufactures lathes for manual, cycle controlled and CNC machining – optionally also with interactive contour programming. In addition to standard machines, which can be upgraded with tool turrets, direct drive tools and power chucks on request, the company also makes special-purpose lathes to customer specifications. Especially when single components or small batches have to be fabricated quickly and extremely precisely, DMT machines are the solution of choice.

Machining high quality materials – and responding to demands for ever higher precision – represents a daunting challenge for the machine technology. DMT's engineers were therefore looking for a drive system that could provide better machining quality and higher productivity. The torsional stiffness and backlash of the main motor/gearbox unit were identified as decisive parameters because they have a significant impact on the dynamic positioning accuracy. This, in turn, is one of the keys to machining quality, a longer tool life and higher metal removal rates by the equipment during machining operations with the C axis. Although a rotary direct drive would have been capable of delivering the required power, major changes would have been necessary to the existing machine concept.

The Galaxie^® Drive System was integrated into the existing system without any problems, leading to a substantial gain in milling performance. The machining times are now much shorter. Even larger workpieces can be produced in one setting – and in most cases there is no longer any need for additional processing on a separate milling machine. They can also be positioned a good deal faster and more accurately. Owing to the torsional stiffness and freedom from backlash achieved with the Galaxie^® Drive System, the tool cutting edges have an extended life and lathe uptime is increased. The Galaxie^® Drive System simultaneously sets benchmarks in terms of power consumption, which is far lower than with direct drives.