The AY series is Pietro Carnaghi's large vertical lathe with a movable table, built for the biggest rotationally symmetric parts in energy, aerospace and heavy industry. All axes run on hydrostatic bearings, and the table rides a hydrostatic axial bearing for loads up to 500 tonnes.

Why a hydrostatic moving table for very large parts?

A rolling-element table carries point loads that flex and wear where the weight sits, which shows up as runout on a multi-metre ring. The AY's table floats on an oil film, so a 14,000 mm turbine casing turns true with no metal contact — the accuracy a large-part shop depends on.

• 6,200-14,000 mm turning diameter
• 5,000-10,000 mm table, 500 t load
• 60-300 kW turning, all-hydrostatic axes
• 40-100 kW milling, 5-axis interpolation

Against a rolling-table vertical lathe, the AY floats the load on oil — the reason a multi-hundred-tonne ring turns true instead of wearing its own table.