Product category:
Flexible machining cells and systems (FMS)
News Release from: StarragHeckert UK | Subject: Flexible manufacturing system
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 14 March 2005
Gearbox housing machined in one clamping
Three machine flexible manufacturing system will produce, in a single clamping, a range of ready to assemble gearbox housings each for use in wind power generators.
Three machine flexible manufacturing system will produce, in a single clamping, a range of ready to assemble gearbox housings each for use in wind power generators A three machine flexible manufacturing system (FMS) has been developed by StarragHeckert for producing, in a single clamping, a range of ready to assemble gearbox housings each weighing up to 10 tonnes for use in construction of wind power generators
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 9 Dec 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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The FMS is centred around three of the latest StarragHeckert HEC 1600 Athletic horizontal machining centres.
The machines are fed from a linear pallet magazine system having 18 pallet storage positions on two tiers and two load-unload stations, and the system is to be installed at Hansen Transmission International in Belgium where it will replace stand-alone machining centres.
The HEC 1600 machines have a pallet size of 1250mm by 1800mm and axes travels of 2800mm in X and 2100mm in Y and Z with a rapid traverse rate of 40m/min.
The spindles are powered by 50kW drives and each machine incorporates an NC quill with an independent feed out stroke of 500mm.
The spindle of each machine is fed from its own 240 location tool magazine able to exchange tools up to 340 mm diameter by 800mm in length as well as special T-type tools which can be up to 920mm diameter.
As part of the processes to machine the different housing types, both roughing and finishing cycles will be performed in a single clamping along with the machining of cored casting holes ranging from 380mm diameter.
These holes will be produced by using a single porcupine shaft cutter and applying helical interpolation.
This single tool method replaces the use of four expensive boring tools on the previous stand-alone machine method used by Hansen.
Also, deep features within the wind turbine housings will be faced in cycle using the combination of the independent feed to depth capability of the 500mm stroke quill extension and the interpolation and traverse of the main machine axes.
Included in the system is coolant temperature stabilisation and software compensation, a Balluff tool identification system, 3D probing and tool breakage monitoring.
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