The daily challenge of disc‑type parts
Many job shops and OEMs machine a wide variety of disc‑type and ring‑type components: wheel hubs for passenger cars and trucks, flanges for pipelines and pressure vessels, brake drums for commercial vehicles, pump casings, and bearing rings. These parts are characterized by large diameters (often 400–1,200 mm), limited height (usually less than 500–800 mm), and tight requirements for concentricity between outer and inner diameters, as well as flatness of the end faces.
Using a horizontal lathe for such parts often involves difficult clamping, poor chip evacuation, and the need for swing over the cross slide or extra outboard supports. A vertical lathe solves these problems by letting the workpiece rest directly on the table. Below are four typical applications where the CK5112 shows its strengths.
1. Automotive wheel hubs
Aluminum alloy or steel wheel hubs for cars and trucks require turning of the outer diameter, inner mounting faces, and often a taper seat. The CK5112's 1,000 mm table handles hub diameters well within its range. The 22 kW spindle provides enough torque for roughing cuts in forged steel or cast aluminum. With constant surface speed (CSS) active, the spindle automatically adjusts its r/min as the tool moves from the hub's outer edge to its inner recess, maintaining a stable chip load and producing a surface finish of Ra 1.6–2.5 µm. If the machine is equipped with the optional four‑station electric turret, roughing, finishing and grooving tools can be programmed in sequence, reducing operator waiting time.
2. Large flanges
Flanges for pipes, valves, and wind tower sections need face turning, outer diameter turning, bore boring, and often a chamfer or recess. In a single clamping on the CK5112, all these operations can be completed. The hydrostatic table guideway absorbs the vibration that often occurs when facing large diameters with interrupted cuts. The X‑axis travel of 700 mm gives plenty of room to reach the flange's outer rim, and the Z‑axis stroke of 650 mm is enough to machine the full thickness of the flange, including any inner counterbore. For a typical 800 mm diameter carbon steel flange, the total cycle time (from clamping to finished part) can be 30–40% shorter than using separate turning and boring equipment.
3. Heavy‑truck brake drums
Brake drums are cast iron components with a friction surface that requires good roundness and fine surface finish. The CK5112's worktable has a maximum load capacity of 3.2 tons, so even the heaviest commercial‑vehicle drum is well within the limit. Cast iron turning benefits from the high damping of the hydrostatic guideway – chatter is suppressed even at high feed rates. The CK5112 can rough and finish the brake drum's internal bore in two passes, achieving roundness within 0.01 mm and a surface finish of Ra 1.6–2.0 µm. Many users find that the finish is good enough to eliminate the need for a separate grinding step.
4. Pump bodies and motor end covers
Pump housings and motor end covers typically require turning of the spigot diameter, facing of the mounting surface, and boring of the bearing pocket. The required tolerances are often in the range of 0.03–0.05 mm. The CK5112's positioning accuracy of 0.03 mm and repeatability of 0.015 mm are fully capable of meeting these requirements. The hydrostatic guideway eliminates low‑speed stick‑slip, which is critical for achieving a consistent surface finish on the sealing face. When the part family changes – say from a pump housing to a belt pulley – the operator simply loads the next program from the Siemens CNC memory. Changeover takes minutes, not hours.
What about productivity and cost?
The most obvious productivity gain from the CK5112 comes from single‑setup machining. On a horizontal lathe, a large brake drum might require external turning, then a second setup for internal boring. On the CK5112, everything is done with the part clamped once. Chip evacuation is also much better: chips fall straight down onto the chip conveyor instead of wrapping around the tool or falling into the chuck. The side‑mounted control panel and handwheel pendant make manual operations and tool setting easy for operators who are not yet fully comfortable with CNC programming. When the machine is equipped with the optional turret, the operator can run long, unattended cycles – loading a new blank while the machine is finishing the previous one.
For a shop that typically processes three to five flange sizes and two to three hub types per week, the flexibility of a CNC vertical lathe like the CK5112 is a clear advantage over a single‑purpose machine. The machine can be quickly adjusted to different diameters (within the 1,250 mm maximum) and different heights (up to 1,000 mm), making it ideal for job shops and small‑batch production lines.
Practical preparation for buyers
Before the CK5112 is delivered, users should prepare a reinforced concrete foundation according to the manufacturer's drawing (600‑grade cement, at least 20 days of curing), provide a 30‑ton or larger overhead crane for unloading and installation, and have hydraulic oil, way lubricant, and basic metrology tools (spirit level, dial indicator) ready. With these preparations done, installation and acceptance can proceed smoothly.
➡️ To discuss your specific parts – wheel hubs, flanges, brake drums, pump bodies, or bearing rings – and to request a trial cut or process evaluation, click here to contact the HAIDI Machine application engineering team.