Product category:
Swarf management equipment
News Release from: Filtration Service Engineering | Subject: Blow Chip swarf and coolant removal system
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 03 June 2003
Blow away swarf problems automatically
How much time do operators spend cleaning swarf off components, fixtures and tables on machining centres? Swarf clearance can be automated.
How much time do your operators spend cleaning swarf off components, fixtures and tables on machining centres? While the use of hand-held wash guns or compressed air lines is commonplace, they are not the most efficient or safest way to remove debris from the machining area And if you are running automated pallet-based machining centres, such methods require an operator to clean off components at various intervals and the spindle has to be stopped while this is carried out
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 28 Mar 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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Cutting fluids pumped to 70 bar or more, and accurately directed at the cutting zone, will force swarf away from the cutting area especially in deep hole drilling or pocketing routines.
Well, a practical and efficient solution to the problem is Blow Chip - an automatic swarf and coolant removal system just introduced by Filtration Service Engineering (FSE) in Kidderminster.
Suitable for both vertical and horizontal machining centres, this fan-based device is loaded automatically from the tool magazine (in its collapsed form) and located in the machine's spindle.
Once the spindle starts to rotate, the four carbon-fibre blades open-up to blow all swarf and coolant off components and fixtures quickly and safely as the fan is positioned above the machined workpiece.
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Latest additions to swarf and coolant management systems include: oil skimmers, coalescer systems and low cost odour control tablets - designed to optimise coolant usage, save tool life.
Second-hand swarf and coolant systems are on-line
A leading swarf and coolant management system specialist has introduced an online second-hand equipment section as part of its general website.
The entire operation is fully automated and as such it provides in-process cleaning without having to stop production.
Blow Chip can save a great deal of time when machining multi-fixtured components or switching between roughing and finishing cuts as no operator intervention is required to remove swarf or coolant.
Local area cleaning of specific component features or certain areas of fixtures can be simply programmed in as part of the machining cycle.
What's more, the system can even accommodate through-the-tool flood wash coolant at a standard pressure of 20 bar (a higher pressure option is available on request).
Delivered through a 4mm diameter hole, the coolant jet can be used to dislodge chips from deep pockets so that blade rotation can effectively blow away all the swarf.
FSE is offering three models of Blow Chip - 170, 250 and 325.
The designation relates to the diameter of the open blades while the diameter of collapsed blades (for tool storage in the magazine) is standard at 70mm and main shaft diameter is also common at 20 mm.
Model 170 has a closed blade length of 85 mm and is suitable for use at speeds ranging from 3000 up to a maximum of 10,000 rev/min.
Comparable figures for the other two systems are 125 mm and 2000 up to 8000 rev/min (model 250) and 162mm and 1000 up to 6000 rev/min (model 325).
Blow Chip can be mounted in either a collet chuck or an end mill holder.
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