Product category:
Miscellaneous machine tool equipment (fixtures, rotary tables etc.)
News Release from: Universal Balancing | Subject: Four-plane balancing machines
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 01 March 2006
Four-plane balancing machines introduced
High capability, 4-plane dynamic balancing machines at prices equivalent to, or less than, most competitive 2-plane units provide optional 2, 3 or 4 plane balancing a wide range of components.
Component and assembly balancing specialist, Universal Balancing has launched a new generation of high capability, 4-plane dynamic balancing machines at prices equivalent to, or less than, most competitive 2-plane units Designated KISS-234, the new machines provide optional 2, 3 or 4 plane balancing capabilities for processing everything from simple rotors to multiple-link propshaft assemblies
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 25 Mar 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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Their attractive pricing is the result of extensive market analysis, detailed value engineering, and Universal's 50-year track record of building state-of-the-art balancing equipment.
This powerful combination has enabled the company to achieve major savings in the installation, operation, training and servicing cost elements of the equipment; ensuring minimum cost of ownership, while maintaining the highest levels of precision and accuracy.
Employing modular design principles, KISS-234 machines are constructed from CNC laser and flame cut components, rather than heavy and costly machined castings.
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Subsidiary supplies aero engine fixtures, gauges
Engineering and balancing technology specialist Universal Balancing has formed a new subsidiary, Aviation Tooling to harness the capabilities of its aerospace industry expertise.
Components dynamically balanced precisely
Using demodulated sine wave technology and latest touch screen Windows-based operation, balancing equipment is ideal for static or dynamic, high or low speed, hard or soft bearing applications.
Modular propshaft balancers have latest controls
To meet automotive industry demands for fast and accurate balancing of single and multi-link propshaft assemblies automatic propshaft balancing machines are built on modular design principles.
They also feature a small footprint and have been designed to fit within a standard 40ft container for easy shipment to site.
The new balancers also incorporate a large number of standardised components and latest generation controls based on Universal's sophisticated UNI-44 system.
Other novel design features include the superseding of traditional spindle and motor arrangements with compact, spindle motors that have been designed in-house specifically for ease of assembly and servicing; servo control as standard; and secure fibre optic machine communications that are immune to electrical noise.
In addition, the new machines employ established Ethernet-based communications that provide remote diagnostic monitoring of all key components - such as motors, weld heads and support bearers.
The new KISS-234 machines score over competitive balancers by incorporating the system's Human Machine Interface (HMI) within the main control screen, using Object Linking and Embedding for Process Control (OPC) programming.
As a result, all HMI options can be accessed quickly and easily from the equipment's simple touch screen menu.
Designed for accurately balancing multi-link automotive propshafts up to 3m long, KISS-234 machines incorporate a number of further novel features.
For maximum production throughput, the system will specify the value of balance weight to be attached to the workpiece at each of the balance planes.
After the operator has loaded the correct weight into the welding head, the machine automatically indexes to the correct orientation for the automatic weld sequence to be completed in a single operation.
As a menu-switchable alternative, the machine can also be instructed to use vector splitting techniques to attach a pair of identical weights at two positions on the balance plane.
This offers the advantage of using common balance weights at every weld head, simplifying automation or lights-out operation.
Similar customer flexibility is built into the KISS-234's component handling capabilities.
If the workpiece and tooling permits, machines can be equipped with a low-cost, automated load / unload work handling option, which typically increases manufacturing throughput by 5%.
At an operational level, the system's standardised twin motor configuration provides in-built redundant capacity, which enables production to be maintained until a convenient time can be found for motor repairs to be undertaken.
Likewise, in the unlikely event of a weld head failure, the remaining weld stations can be quickly reprogrammed to compensate - again until a repair can be made, or replacement unit installed.
KISS-234 units come equipped with the latest generation UNI-44 controller, whose switchable touch-screen menus are ready-configured for a wide variety of component options.
As a result, the system provides the flexibility for users to process several different types of workpiece in a single shift, with only minimal change-over times.
A further example of the detail design invested in the new Unibal machines can be seen in the use of precision ground machine bed rails, rather than widely-used T slot alternatives.
"This enables us to align the machine components extremely accurately," says Universal Balancing's managing director, Steve Fowler.
"It not only ensures more accurate component balancing, but also reflects the automotive sector's drive towards increasingly tight production tolerances".
"Eight years ago, we might have been expected to balance a propshaft assembly to 240g.mm.
Today, OEMs are typically looking to achieve 80g.mm." He continued: "The new KISS 234 machines represent many man-years work for us.
Armed with the results of an in-depth market research exercise, we went right back to basics and questioned everything - to remove cost, without ever compromising quality.
Through its combination of high accuracy, durability and extremely competitive pricing, we expect the new machine to generate a great deal of interest in the market place.
Perhaps it is just as well that we can build them 40% quicker than our previous 4-plane equipment - otherwise lead times may start to increase." * About Universal Balancing - a UK leader in industrial balancing technology, Bristol-based Universal Balancing offers a complete spectrum of manual, semi and fully-automatic balancing systems, including vertical and horizontal axis, soft or hard bearing equipment.
The company also provides a comprehensive contract balancing service for components ranging from a few grams to several hundred kilograms.
In addition, it will design, manufacture and install customised balancing solutions - including work handling and component manipulation modules - as part of high-speed, high-volume automated manufacturing lines. Request a free brochure from Universal Balancing ...
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