Spanish lathes make a difference with quality, accuracy and price

Unknown is unloved. Too few machinists in Belgium are aware of the advantages a CMZ lathe can bring to their workshop. They are robust, sturdy machines that can hold their own in terms of accuracy and dynamics, even in heavy and difficult operations. And with the service and support of Promas behind them, you are assured of a true partner. High time for a closer acquaintance.

CMZ from the Basque town of Zaldibar is by no means a one-day wonder. The Spanish company has been delivering top-quality lathes for more than seventy years. The fact that they have remained such a well-kept secret has to do with a lack of representation on the Belgian market. But Promas has been changing that for several years now. Managing director Richard Hermans: "CMZ's strength lies in its focus. They focus entirely on lathes and know better than anyone how such a machine should offer added value for users. We are talking about an annual volume of about 500 lathes. Moreover, they limit themselves to just a handful of models, so they can finish them to perfection at a price that does not hint at the quality behind them. And the fact that it is a family business where people with a passion for technology and a sense of precision are at work helps make all the difference. Because they keep production at a high level, various machines are regularly available from stock."

The machines still have the same accuracy at night as they began the day with.

Accuracy first thanks to unique construction

The starting point of every CMZ machine is the robust and extremely stable cast iron frame. An essential condition to fully utilize the heavy power the machines can handle and combine it with high accuracy. "The special thing about CMZ is that they manufacture, harden and precisely regrind the block guides in-house," Hermans says. "To ensure the highest accuracy, they are still scraped manually. The motors, spindles and guides are also oil-cooled, so that temperature effects remain minimal. In other words, the machines still have the same accuracy at night. Each machine bed has further undergone heat treatment and is milled, hardened and ground in a single set-up, so that deviations in flatness and parallelism between the Z-axis and centerline pivot-countercenter are particularly limited. It is with details like that that CMZ lathes know how to make a difference."

The motors are given a double winding to make the machines real powerhouses. Even difficult materials they can master without problems.

Powerhouses with an eye for quality

In addition, power is also noticeable. Not only the main spindle of the CMZ lathes but optionally driven tools can develop relatively high power and guarantee shorter cycle times. "The motors receive a double winding to make the machines real powerhouses. Even difficult materials they can master with ease, without sacrificing productivity or accuracy." With the addition of an extra Y axis, it also becomes possible to perform some milling work on the CMZ lathes. "The fewer fixtures needed, the less chance of errors and the greater the accuracy and surface quality," Hermans adds. Another big advantage of CMZ is that the automation solutions also come from its own factory. Says Hermans, "This allows the machine and automation to be developed as a single unit for perfect alignment and a compact footprint. For example, the control of the gantry is integrated into the machine control, which contributes to user-friendliness and quick changeover."