PROCESS EQUIPMENT UPDATE
Industrial rotary transfer machines are widespread in industry wherever metal parts need to be manufactured in large quantities
W MAKE THE H
undreds of thousands of throttle valves for diesel injection systems are manufactured every year. T e same applies to the cylinders and keys of a locking system or plugs in the electronics industry. All these metal parts must be manufactured to the nearest micrometre, and various machining processes are required to achieve this. Here are seven facts about why rotary transfer machines are the preferred choice for demanding workpieces in high quantities. A rotary transfer machine is a CNC machine tool for machining metal parts. All processing steps – turning, milling, drilling, gear cutting, broaching, slotting, tumbling, honing, grinding and assembling – can be completed in a single process step. T e workpiece is clamped onto a rotatable indexing table and is machined horizontally and vertically all around by up to 20 process stations.
FACT 1: ROTARY TRANSFER MACHINES ARE MICRO-PRECISE Repeat accuracies of 3 μm are standard for rotary transfer machines. But how does
ORLD GO ROUND Seven facts about rotary transfer machines
the machine achieve such high precision with ever-changing processes? T e solution: a trailing plate. T e workpieces to be machined are not clamped onto a fi xed chuck, but onto a pallet. A drag plate transports these in the rotary transfer machine from station to station and sets the workpieces down within µ-accuracy. When placed in the zero-point clamping system, an accuracy of ± 1 µm can then be achieved. T e indexing time takes only about 2.5 seconds.
FACT 2: ROTARY TRANSFER MACHINES ARE FAST AND GUARANTEE A HIGH THROUGHPUT Since up to 20 stations – each equipped with up to three tools – process several components at the same time, idle times are reduced to a minimum. In addition, the loading and unloading process is automated. T is allows a rotary transfer machine to work up to 20 times faster than a machining centre. No other machine tool can achieve such a high production rate.
FACT 3: ROTARY TRANSFER MACHINES ENABLE MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY IN PRODUCTION Due to the high number of spindles, components can be machined with many diff erent tools simultaneously, thus enabling maximum fl exibility. In addition, it is possible to adjust the system at any time to new production challenges, making it suitable for a variety of products. Furthermore, various metals can be machined: steel, brass, aluminium, copper, etc. T is opens up a wide range of industries where rotary transfer machines can be used.
FACT 4: ROTARY TRANSFER MACHINES ARE WIDELY USED Wherever demanding workpieces need to be manufactured with high precision and in large quantities, rotary transfer machines are used. T ese include mass production of metal parts for the automotive industry, for apparatus and fi tting construction in hydraulics or pneumatics, as well as for the lock and mount industry.
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