Lang Technik has completed a Lang RoboTrex installation at the premises of Ritchie Precision in Livingston.

Ritchie Precision recently had the opportunity to quote for a high-volume, long-term contract related to the manufacture of intricate, multi-feature medical components with extremely challenging dimensional tolerances. Mindful of the length of the potential contract and the fact that the company could amortise some of the costs involved in purchasing the necessary equipment, Ritchie set about investigating the most efficient methods of producing the complicated components and achieving their demanding dimensional specifications.

The company installed three DMU eVo universal machining centres from DMG Mori, all of which are now served by Lang Robo-Trex automation systems. Working unattended and fed by the Lang Robo-Trex systems, the company’s DMU eVo machines run throughout the day. Then, before the end of each day shift, the company restocks the Robo-Trex trollies with batches of workpieces, enabling each machining centre to run unmanned throughout the night.

The trollies are loaded with multiple vices that hold workpieces ready for machining. Unattended, the systems’ robots pick workpieces from the trollies, load them into the DMG machines and, when complete, return them to the trollies.

A simple to operate touch panel enables easy control of the automated system and, thanks to external trolley access, production remains seamless as there is no need to interrupt the machining cycles. It is possible to control the system’s zero-point clamping system either pneumatically through the machine tool, or mechanically via the system’s robot.
Ritchie Precision’s senior manufacturing engineer Taylor Barr says: “By enabling our three new universal machining centres to work around the clock without stopping, our Lang Robo-Trex systems have allowed the maximum productive potential of the machines to be realised.”

For further information
www.lang-technik.co.uk

The Engineering Technology Group (ETG) is now offering UK manufacturers the new B-Safe from Balance Systems. B-Safe expands spindle and machine-tool diagnostics according to vibration and temperature analysis. The miniaturised system installs directly on to the machine’s spindle, guaranteeing real-time monitoring and the reduction of machine downtime by predicting malfunctions and potential failures. However, the system can provide so much more. Based upon fully customised solutions from ETG, B-Safe has an overload alarm, an overheating alarm with programmable thresholds that correlate with real-time data from process monitoring, and can create a collision alarm within 1 ms
B-Safe easily retrofits to virtually all machine tools and spindles. The system consists of a B-Safe sensor with a connector or integrated cable, a UPS and TCP-IP connection device interface, a start-up kit with software and user manual, a wide range of extension cables, and M5 to M12 adaptor and magnetic support that can all be fitted with simplicity.

Options include an event logbook, tri-axial real-time data recorder, high-frequency mono-axial data, FFT analysis, a collision waveform recorder, historical trends, spindle check-up, service notes and the ‘Fingerprint’ feature (a B-Safe app intended for condition monitoring of machine tool and machine tool spindle based on vibration analysis).
This information and much more is available in the always-connected HMI, while the multi-platform software provides users with full control from anywhere. The B-Safe HMI is a software platform that allows interaction with multiple sensors at the same time and is available in different languages and layouts. It is suitable for PCs or machine-tool control panels that run Microsoft Windows 7, 8.x or 10.

For further information
www.engtechgroup.com

Accudyne Products is introducing its expanded-capacity bar puller for CNC lathe automation. The new EZ-Puller Expanded Capacity supports larger round bar diameters of 0.093” to 2” (2.7 to 50.8 mm) and weights of up to 100 lbs (45.4 kg). Hex bar capacity of 0.25” to 1.375” (6.4 to 34.9 mm) and square bar capacity of 0.25” to 1” (6.4 to 25.4 mm) are pulled without the need for an M19 (spindle orientation) function.

The EZ-Puller is an auto-adjusting bar puller that enables the automatic operation of CNC lathes. Notably, the auto-adjust feature is driven by an ‘X’ value in the pulling sub-routine of a lathe program. This value represents the distance the tool needs to move in the X axis according to the bar diameter being pulled.

Accudyne’s patented design uses a cam and lifter system, where hardened steel grippers attach to hardened steel pivot arms. These arms have an integral cam lobe machined at their top. As the grippers advance over the bar stock, internal urethane springs compress. The urethane springs provide a reactive force that allows the grippers to securely hold the bar stock. This proprietary design provides optimal gripping force regardless of bar size or shape.

Other features of the EZ-Puller are that it will accommodate an infinite range of sizes within its capacity without mechanical adjustment, allowing for multiple pulls. Multiple pulls are used for longer parts that cannot be cost-effectively machined in one chucking. The design of the EZ-Puller also allows for pulling bars with minimal projection in front of the work-holding chuck. This characteristic allows the machinist to set-up with as little as two gripper serrations (0.12”/3 mm) of engagement, which makes for a more rigid set up.

For further information
www.accudyneproducts.com

The Centrotex quick change-over interface from Hainbuch is now available in a new version for smaller machine spindles. Acclaimed by the company as the market’s smallest system for setting up clamping devices in a matter of seconds, the quick-change Centrotex S has a diameter of just 224 mm and offers repeatability better than ≤0.002 mm on the interface without having to re-align.

Hainbuch’s Centrotex S is a solution for eliminating non-productive downtime, set-up times and job changeover times that often increase when access to a compact work envelope is restrictive on operator movement and access. Featuring a fast change-over system and compact design, the Centrotex S eliminates excessive set-up times and is particularly suitable for compact machine tools with a small work envelope.

The machine adaptor mount on the spindle and the clamping device is equipped with a counterpart adaptor that can exchange with another clamping device in less than a minute. Actuation of Hainbuch’s Centrotex S is via just one radial locking screw, while ergonomic operation is now better thanks to the fewer rotations required to tighten and clamp the system. In addition, the Monteq changing fixture contributes to a faster clamping device set-up.

The new Centrotex S is suitable for clamping parts up to 52 mm diameter, and for A2-5, A2-6, AP140 and AP170 spindle nose systems.

Additionally, the Centrotex S system can offer a solution in fixed position clamping set-ups on the bed of machine tools. According to Hainbuch, the precision, rigidity and clamping forces can significantly improve machining performance, surface finishes and tool life.

For further information
www.hainbuch.com

Wiltshire-based Rotron Power, a specialist designer and manufacturer of rotary engines, has purchased a Lehmann T1-510520 CNC rotary table to support its machining activities.
“As we need to efficiently machine parts with demanding levels of precision, we have invested in a range of machine tools from XYZ,” explains production manager Sam Bellefontaine.

“When the need arose to purchase a rotary table, we were happy to take advice from XYZ’s technical staff and invest in a Lehmann unit. The machining flexibility and speed that our new rotary table delivers is now proving invaluable.”

Given the complex nature of many of its parts, Rotron Power would need to perform two or three separate machining operations prior to installing the rotary table.
“Now, thanks to the ‘all-round’ machining capability delivered by our Lehmann solution we can complete the same machining work in a single hit,” says Bellefontaine. “In addition, we no longer have problems related to the accurate relocation of workpieces for secondary machining operations. These factors have helped us to maintain our high precision standards and slash the machining time of many components.”

The relatively small footprint of the Lehmann rotary table means that, when mounted inside the XYZ machine, it occupies a minimum area of its bed.

“As well as leaving room for the fitting of additional work holding on the bed, the compact size of the rotary table means that – even when it’s not required – we can leave it inside the machine while other milling and drilling work takes place,” says Bellefontaine. “Also, when we are not using it, the rotary table’s low profile helps to increase the available working volume of the machine.”

For further information
www.lehmann-rotary-tables.com