Release of SB-20RII, a Swiss-Type Automatic Lathe
– Model change of best-selling SB series in response to diversifying customer needs –
Star Micronics Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Suruga-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka; President and Representative Director: Mamoru Sato) will launch the SB-20RII, a new product of its flagship Swiss-type automatic lathe (*1), with a maximum hole diameter of 20 mm.
Ever since the launch of the first model of the SB series in 2003, it has been used for parts machining for various industries, including automobiles, information and communications equipment, and medical equipment, and is our best-selling series, with cumulative sales exceeding 27,000 machines.
This model change is designed to improve basic performance as well as expand the various support functions using software, with the aim of making the machine more user-friendly for operators. In addition, we have a lineup of two models of numerical control (NC) devices, which serve as the brain of machine tools, from FANUC (FANUC Corporation) and Mitsubishi Electric (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation), enabling operators to choose according to their sense of operation.
Start of Sales Scheduled for June 2025
Main features
- [Our proprietary high-rigidity tool post]
A high-rigidity tool post with the SB series’ traditional “slanted slide guide surface structure” is employed for the tool post for front-side machining. By reducing the load generated during cutting, continuous machining for long periods of time with stable accuracy is realized. - [Guide bush/non-guide bush (*2) changeover mechanism]
The mechanism makes it possible to change over at optimal specifications according to the full dimensions of the parts to be machined. In the case of long parts, the guide bush specification acts as a material run-out prevention device, enabling machining with high accuracy while suppressing deflection of the workpiece. In the case of short parts, the non-guide bush specification reduces the leftover materials to be discarded, so material costs can be reduced. - [Wide variety of tooling variations]
A 5-spindle cartridge-type cross drill unit is employed for the tool post for front-side machining. Various tool units can be mounted on the three cartridge-compatible positions according to the shape of the machined parts. - [Improved rear-side machining capability]
The output of the sub-spindle and power-driven tool for rear-side machining has been increased, enabling higher-load rear-side machining. The sub-spindle is equipped with a built-in sensor to achieve high-accuracy C-axis positioning. - [NC specifications to select from]
Two models are available: the FANUC NC specification, which is equipped with various convenient functions that support the daily work of operators cultivated with our existing models, and the Mitsubishi Electric NC specification, which is equipped with a touch panel display for intuitive operation, and wireless LAN. - [Dedicated mobile app for the proprietary Mitsubishi Electric NC specification]
A dedicated mobile app for Android (*3) devices was developed for the Mitsubishi Electric NC specification equipped with wireless LAN. Monitoring of the machine utilization status, program management, and so on, is possible using a smartphone or tablet, even without having to build a LAN environment in the factory. - [“EASY EDIT” for on-machine program editing]
With an interactive input screen, which allows easy program generation by simply inputting numbers for the required items, and a programming support function, which allows editing and insertion while checking commands, powerful support is provided for program creation on the NC screen.
(*Optional: FANUC NC specification only) - [Step Cycle Pro, which reduces chip problems]
By simply inputting the machining conditions from the dedicated screen, chips can be reliably separated. In addition, the instantaneous maximum feed rate can be checked at this dedicated screen, so the optimal machining conditions can be set while taking into account the condition of chips and the cutting load applied to the cutting edge.
(*Optional: FANUC/Mitsubishi Electric NC specifications)
Main specifications
| Item | Specification | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum hole diameter | 20mm dia | OP:25.4mm dia | |
| Spindle unit maximum stroke | Guide bush specification | 205mm | |
| Non-guide bush specification | 50mm | Material diameter x 2.5 | |
| Front-side spindle | Maximum speed | 10,000min-1 | |
| Motor output | 2.2kW／3.7kW | ||
| Rear-side spindle | Maximum speed | 10,000min-1 | OP:8,000min-1 |
| Motor output | 1.5kW／2.2kW | ||
| Power-driven tool motor | For front side | 1.2kW | |
| For rear side | 1.0kW | OP | |
| Machine dimensions (L × W × H) | 2,070mm x 1,095mm x 1,775mm | ||
(*1) What is a Swiss-type automatic lathe?
The Swiss-type automatic lathe is a type of lathe that rotates materials such as metal, and presses a cutting instrument against the materials to cut them. It was invented in Switzerland in the 1870s as a machine for machining small precision parts such as watch parts. It is also called a “spindle-moving type automatic lathe”. It is characterized by the ability to cut long narrow parts with high precision due to the material grasped by the spindle unit being machined while fed at a certain distance from the guide bush, which acts as a material run-out prevention device.
(*2) What is the non-guide bush specification?
The non-guide bush specification is a Swiss-type automatic lathe with the guide bush that acts as a material run-out prevention device removed. It is unsuitable for machining of long narrow parts, however, in the case of short parts that do not deflect even without a guide bush, the length of leftover material that is discarded without being able to be machined due to the machine structure can be reduced by about one-third of that for the guide bush specification.
(*3) Android is a trademark of Google LLC.
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