WORLD PREVIEW OF NEW K-SERIES CITIZEN AT NC ENGINEERING OPEN HOUSE 22-24 SEPTEMBER 2004

Visitors to NC Engineering's three-day Open House in September will see for the first time the working prototype of a new generation low cost CNC sliding head automatic lathe from Citizen which is scheduled for its world launch in November at the JIMTOF exhibition in Japan.

Year on year Citizen has dominated the international CNC sliding head market through consistent innovation and machine development giving ever-higher levels of productivity and machine utilisation through combinations of mechanical features, control systems and software. At MACH 2004, for instance, six new machines were launched. Now for NC Engineering's Open House, between 22-24 September 2004, to be held at its prestigious Watford showroom and technical centre, the prototype K12 with the latest Fanuc 31i Series control will be previewed.

This 12 mm (½ inch) capacity, 3.7 kW, 15,000 revs/min main and 10,000 revs/min sub-spindle machine will break new ground in performance to price ratio and especially with its capability to provide a headstock stroke of 200 mm. The specification includes five turning tools, four double aspect end working tools and four driven tools.

Also being launched is the much awaited Citizen M16 Type III with the latest control and high speed processors which, like the larger capacity M32 launched at MACH 2004, should be some 25 per cent faster than the previous generation M16 machine.

Other machines shown at MACH 2004 and being demonstrated under power will be two of the very popular C16 machines in the economy Type VIE and higher specification VII versions plus the larger C32 VIII, a 32 mm capacity model. A Citizen mid-range L20 in high specification Type VIII and a top of the range M32 Series 3 Type V with two Y-axes for increased flexibility will be running. In addition, the linear driven high speed Citizen RO4, which is some 40 per cent faster than a traditional CAM auto for parts up to 4 mm diameter, will also be under power.

Visitors will also be able to view the NC Engineering pre-owned area and debate their timely upgrading of existing machines installed to achieve the higher productivity being demonstrated in the main showroom. They should also obtain a good trade-in price for any existing machines due to the high residual value of the Citizen brand.

Demonstrations of software, alarm messaging, tooling systems and inspection equipment will also be at the Open House which provide valuable support to the high productivity machine shop.