Vurcon · Industries
CNC machinery for the railway industry
To machine railway axles, wheels and brake discs you need a large-format CNC lathe: the Vurcon PL140/5000 offers Ø1,440 mm swing over bed with 5,000 mm between centres, and the PL180/8000 reaches Ø1,850 mm and 8,000 mm, both with a Ø142 mm spindle bore. For bogie frames and axle boxes, the DC1020 and DC1330 double column machining centres (up to 3,100 × 1,400 × 800 mm, BT50 taper) mill, drill and bore in very few set-ups, while larger frames and track parts are handled by large-format gantry machines built to project.
Typical parts
- Axles — turning wheel, bearing and disc seats between centres; distance between centres must exceed the axle length with some margin.
- Wheels and wheelsets — tread profile, rim and hub; swing over carriage is what limits you (Ø920 mm on the PL140/5000, Ø1,340 mm on the PL180/8000).
- Brake discs — flat, parallel friction faces, hub and a pattern of mounting holes.
- Bogie frames — large welded structures: facing of seats, drilling and boring on several sides.
- Axle boxes — boring the bearing housing and milling the bearing faces; a job for a vertical or double column machine.
- Track and switch parts — switch blades, crossings, plates and chairs: long parts that need a long X stroke and a heavy table.
Machining challenges
Railway parts are long, heavy and made of forged or cast steel. Every re-clamp costs time and puts concentricity between seats at risk, so the lathe should turn the whole axle between centres and, ideally, cut keyways or radial holes without unloading it. That is why the PL140/5000 has a 4-station turret with Y-axis and the PL180/8000 can take a driven turret.
Welded frames bring a different challenge: bulky, stressed parts with features on several faces. A BT50 double column machine gives the rigidity to rough steel and a table for the whole part; if a frame exceeds standard strokes, we scope a bespoke gantry machine.
Recommended Vurcon machines
How we work
We start from your largest part: diameter, length, weight, material and operations. From the drawing we propose machine, control and options, pairing a large lathe with a double column machine where needed. For bushes and sleeves, our SBL slant bed lathes complete the line-up.
The PL140/5000 and DC1020 are in stock in Spain. Installation and commissioning and operator training are part of the job, followed by service and spare parts. Vurcon is part of Grupo Ferrotall.
Frequently asked questions
Which lathe do I need for railway axles?
One with a distance between centres longer than your longest axle and enough swing for the wheel seat. The PL140/5000 gives 5,000 mm between centres and the PL180/8000 8,000 mm.
Can I turn wheels and wheelsets?
It depends on wheel diameter: the limit is swing over carriage, Ø920 mm on the PL140/5000 and Ø1,340 mm on the PL180/8000. We check your part before quoting.
Which machine suits bogie frames?
A double column machining centre: the DC1330 has 3,100 × 1,400 × 800 mm of travel and a BT50 spindle. If the frame does not fit, we look at a large-format gantry machine built to project.
Can I mill keyways and drill on the lathe?
Yes. The PL140/5000 has a 4-station turret with Y-axis and the PL180/8000 has a driven turret option, so keyways, flats and radial holes are done without unloading the part.
Are any machines in stock?
The PL140/5000 and DC1020 are in stock in Spain; everything else is configured to your part.
Tell us which part you need to machine
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