workholding
The Erowa Robot
Compact can be
quickly retrofitted to
existing machines
For shifting pallets up to
500kg in weight
automatically and safely,
the Erowa Robot Heavy
supplies up to three
machines with big
workpieces
demands on machining, such as new materials,
enhanced surface finish and closer tolerances have made
the problem of vibration more and more urgent. System
3R has seized an opportunity to improve the entire
machining process by improving the dynamic
properties of its pallet system.
‘Our vibration-damping pallet systems are effective
over a broad range of frequencies and are just as
effective in conventional milling as in high speed
milling,’ says Dr Amir Rashid, in charge of the
company’s research and development. ‘During
machining, the parameters change all the time as a
function of the type and size of the workpiece, the
material, the cutting data, and not least, on the way the
mass of the workpiece changes as material is removed.
The new, integral vibration damping has a markedly
positive effect on productivity, quality and profitability.’
The VDP range includes both manual and automatic
chucks - Macro, MacroMagnum and Dynafix - that
improve surface finish, reduce tool wear, allow
machining with a higher removal rate, reduce wear on
the machine spindle and lessen noise levels. ‘Several
years’ work have been invested in this project, including
development and testing at the Department of
Production Engineering at the Royal Institute of
54 MWP january 2008
Technology, Stockholm (KTH ), and the Fraunhofer
Institute for Production Technology in Aachen,’ adds Dr
Rashid. ‘Our aim is to lead developments in machining
technology and meet the demands of our customers all
over the world.’
Productivity gains
Hirschmann says that using its workholding systems,
which give high productivity combined with precision
machining, enable machine tools to be demonstrated to
their best advantage. The was point was supported ably
at a Productivity Partnerships event organised by 600
Centre, where seven of the machines being
demonstrated were fitted with Hirschmann
workholding equipment, including two Fanuc
Robodrills, two Fanuc wire EDM machines, a Richmond
machining centre, a Joemars EDM machine and a
Wenzel CMM.
System integration in order to achieve high
productivity, and the ability to produce spherical parts
with small details, were demonstrated by one of the
Robodrills, the Joemars EDM and a Fanuc wire EDM
machine. Using a Hirschmann System 5000 chuck and
collet attached to a Nikken head, a 20mm steel bar was
rough milled to create a 16mm ball. Without changing
the workholding system (eliminating any additional
set-up) the 600 Centre’s logo was cut into the workpiece.
Still without changing the workholding system, the
workpiece was transferred to a wire EDM machine for
finishing using the new Hirschmann high speed rotary
spindle. The other Robodrill, equipped with a
Hirschmann Minifix milling chuck, copper blanks and
drawbar, showed how small parts could be machined
effectively and with minimum cycle times.
The high levels of productivity that can be achieved
from wire EDM, particularly with multiple part set-up,
was demonstrated by the Fanuc wire EDM machines,
which were machining a 1mm diameter bar as a micropart.
Unmanned operation and multiple part set-up
were demonstrated on the Richmond VMC. Using a
standard Hirschmann System 9000 integrated clamping
plate, workpieces can be directly mounted in the
clampers via a patented clamping journal or with vices
and three-jaw chucks.
Still need convincing?
For those still unconvinced regarding the advantages
that even the most straightforward of workpiece
handling automation can provide, pallet changer
specialists Midaco has now made available an on-line
calculator for potential users to calculate the payback
such a system can deliver. The company’s payback
calculator is a quick and approximate guide to how
much a Midaco pallet changer, available in the UK via
Roemheld, can save an organisation every month by
reducing spindle idle time and increasing machine tool
utilisation.
Spindle idle time, which can be as much a 70% in some
companies, can be reduced to just a fraction of that
downtime, helping to save thousands of pounds a year in
production costs by reducing part loading and set-up time.
www.remsystems.co.uk
www.system3r.com
www.hirschmannengineering.co.uk
www.roemheld.co.uk
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