Four-axis chip breaking takes takes productivity to next level

MACH 2026 (NEC Birmingham, 20-24 April) will be the first major UK exhibition at which Citizen Machinery’s patented LFV (low-frequency vibration) chip breaking will be demonstrated with four-axis simultaneous capability. While the functionality made its debut at the turn-milling machine supplier’s open house in Brierley Hill last October, the event in Birmingham this April will provide a first opportunity for a wider audience to see the new technology in action.

Citizen rolled out its original LFV chip-breaking functionality to international markets more than a decade ago. Integrated into the operating system of the control driving the axis motions of Citizen Cincom sliding-head lathes, and more recently selected Miyano fixed-head models, it’s designed to break stringy swarf into manageable chips. Distinct from programmed chip-breaking macros offered by other suppliers, LFV synchronises high-frequency vibration in the direction of the cutting feed with spindle rotation to create intermittent air-cutting to break long swarf effectively.

Today, the technology has been developed to enable the function to be programmed to start and stop in four separate axes at the same time: the X and Z movements of both the main and sub spindles. Citizen reports that four-axis LFV is a major step forward, as it enhances flexibility, reduces cycle times and eliminates operational bottlenecks since there is no need to stop the machine to remove tangled swarf, however complex the program. It’s particularly advantageous during lights-out production when working with malleable materials like copper, some stainless steels, aluminium, titanium, nickel alloys, lead-free eco-brass, and plastics.

Application engineers at Citizen Machinery are always on hand to assist in optimising machining strategies and several specialists will be present on stand 20-260 at MACH 2026 to provide advice. Notably, at the show there will be five turn-mill centres with four-axis LFV, including three new Miyano fixed-head lathes: a BNJ-51SY7, a BNX-65MSY with workpiece unloader and an ANX-42SYY also with an unloader.

The other four-axis LFV models will be sliding-head Cincoms, a new L32-X series 2 and an M32-VIII that combines the speed of a gang tool post with the versatility of a 10-station turret. Both machines, along with the Miyano models on show – including a BNE-65 with automatic tool change – are capable of superimposed machining with up to three tools in cut simultaneously, significantly reducing cycle times.

A further highlight on the stand will be a Miyano ABX-80THY with three 12-station tool turrets and enhanced thermal compensation, capable of turn-milling parts up to 80 mm in diameter to very high accuracy. It will be exhibited alongside a compact, micro-machining, sliding-head Cincom RO4 lathe featuring a 20,000 rpm spindle, a zero-backlash linear motor in the X axis and a bar capacity of 4 mm, which will be demonstrated turning a 2 mm diameter component. This pair of machines at opposite ends of the range in terms of bar capacity will underline the enormous variety of production equipment available from Citizen Machinery UK.