INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Blum touch probes prove their long service life

Employing measuring systems in the working area of a CNC machining centre is still an unfamiliar idea for some quality experts. With its probes in use at German company Scherzinger Pumpen, Blum-Novotest is demonstrating that automated measurement not only works effectively in this harsh environment and in two-shift operation, but does so reliably and accurately over many years.

“Our core competencies in manufacturing are in milling, turning and grinding, as well as logistics and assembly,” reports Mario Maier, head of process planning at Scherzinger Pumps. “We machine metal as well as plastic and, in so doing, achieve a high level of quality and reliably tight manufacturing tolerances. Blum touch probes and laser light barriers, which we use in many machining centres, help us to accomplish that. The probes have an astonishingly long service life.”

At Scherzinger, the Blum TC50 infrared probes primarily find use for measuring bores and for workpiece zero-point detection. The company machines housings for brine pumps, for example, from two sides by rotating the clamped components in the machine tool. As a point of note, the drive is located on one side, while the two gear wheels of the actual pump are located on the other side. Scherzingermachines the through-hole of the drive axis from the drive side in the first set-up. After finishing one side – there are five housings per set-up – the housings swivel by 180°to allow machining of the pump side.

To ensure that the two machining operations align precisely with each other, the probe (mounted in the machine spindle) measures the position of the through-hole on all five housings after swivelling. The measured positions are then taken into account during the second machining operation so that, for example, the threaded holes for the cover can be precisely aligned, drilled and cut.
For further information www.blum-novotest.com

E-mobility gearboxes are no grind with ETG

Gearboxes used in electric vehicles are not only designed for high speeds and high torques, they are also very compact. This fact is not only true for the automotive sector, but also innovative applications such as e-bikes. These small but high power and electrically driven gearboxes inspire design engineers to come up with more creative solutions. With gear manufacturing technology manufactured by Kapp Niles, the Engineering Technology Group (ETG) says it offers UK manufacturers an innovative solution for producing electric vehicle and e-bike gearboxes.

Through ETG, Kapp Niles offers two machine types for meeting customer requirements. Both series are equipped with high-efficiency drives for the tools (25,000 rpm) and the workpieces (5000rpm). The KNG350 flex HS has a conventional design featuring a single workpiece drive. This machine is available in two versions, one for small lot sizes with manual loading. For higher volumes, an automated version is available with an integrated ring loader. It is possible to process workpieces up to 350 mm in diameter using this machine.The machine offers short set-up times thanks to the use of intelligent components and innovative ergonomics.

For large-scale production, it is worth taking a closer look at the productivity times of machines pre-set by design. The KX TWIN series with two workpiece drives and a loading and unloading process performed in parallel to actual grinding offers further potential for the reduction of non-productive times. The in-line centrifugation of components directly in the machine enables compliance with the ‘clean factory’ approach across all known automation concepts.
For further information www.engtechgroup.com

Industry set to meet for deburring and finishing

The 5th edition of DeburringEXPO will present innovations and trends for deburring and surface finishing at the Karlsruhe Exhibition Centre on 10-12 October 2023. With its bilingual expert forum, this leading trade fair also hosts one of Europe’s most coveted sources of knowledge.

Outlining the potential of the event, Iris Münz, commercial director of Ultratec Anlagentechnik Münz GmbH, an exhibitor at the last event in 2021, says: “We were pleasantly surprised, not only by the number of leads, but by their quality as well. Visitors came to us with very precise requirements for specific components.”

Hartmut Herdin, managing director of promoter fairXperts GmbH & Co KG, adds: “Companies are being confronted with ever-stricter or modified and new requirements, where previously used processes and technologies are reaching their limits. For example, these include more demanding specifications for surface quality, more complex component geometries and a changing component spectrum, as well as new and modified materials and manufacturing processes.”

Based on existing bookings and enquiries, fairXperts is expecting around 150-180 exhibitors, which is a significant increase compared with the last event in 2021 and almost matches pre-Covid levels.

DeburringEXPO will also feature theme parks covering topics such ascomponent cleaning, quality control and automation, while an integrated three-day expert forum will see presentations delivered in both German and English. The forum is one of the most sought-after sources of knowledge anywhere in Europe. It enables visitors to enhance their know-how in the fields of deburring, rounding and component cleaning, as well as in the production of precision surface finishes, by presenting new solutions, research results and benchmark applications.
Further for information www.deburring-expo.de

ROS installs Rösler shot-blasting machine

Less weight, compact design and improved sustainability – a producer of injection-moulded components has proven that these goals are achievable economically with high-performance plastic materials. The company is increasingly producing previously metal workpieces from duroplast and thermoplast materials. Therefore, the capacity for de-
flashing these components requires increasing. For this purpose, the customer ROS GmbH & Co KG chose shot-blasting solutions from Rösler. An RSAB 470wire mesh belt machine ensures fast and efficient processing in continuous flow, while an RWS 1200swing satellite table machine is utilised for high-quality, consistent de-flashing of single workpieces. The special dual chamber design of this machine practically eliminates any unproductive idle equipment times.

Jürgen Bär, responsible for planning in the industrial engineering department at ROS in Coburg explains: “Deciding factors for choosing Rösler were our good experience with the
shot-blast machines we’ve been using for a long time, the compact, space-saving and sturdy equipment design, and Rösler’s comprehensive knowledge in the field of plastic de-flashing. Moreover, we needed the continuous flow shot-blast machine quickly. Rösler generously supplied a machine from their customer experience centre within a few days.”

The flexible, high-capacity RSAB 470 shot-blast machinede-flashes components made from duroplast and thermoplast PPS-GF materials, while the RWS 1200swing satellite table machine de-flashes components made from PPS-GF with outer dimensions of up to 163 mm.
In line with the production cycle of the injection moulding machine, up to four workpieces are de-flashed simultaneously within a processing time of 40 seconds.
For further information www.rosler.com

Apex Tool invests in Studer S31 cylindrical grinder

At the Apex Tool Group GmbH (ATG) in Westhausen, a new S31 cylindrical grinding machine from Studer is proving truly universal. From individual components to medium series, the machinecost-effectively and flexiblygrinds gear and control shafts for the company’sCleco brand ofelectric and pneumatic assembly tools.

ATG produces almost all the essential screwdriver components in-house, which applies in particular to motor and gear shafts, levers, valves, cams and housings.

“We need to grind our motor and gear shafts to an accuracy of just a few microns,” revealsNiko Schindelarz, supervisor -machining. “This is essential to ensure the extremely quiet running and long service life of our screwdrivers.”

But this was still a very complex process until just a few months ago. Only one proven grinding machine, purchased in the early 1980s, was available for cylindrical grinding. In order to grind the large number of 30 to 650 mm long shafts with diameters between 3 and 65 mm, it was necessary to reset the machine manually, over and over again. The search therefore began for a new cylindrical grinder.

Schindelarz explains it was firstly necessary to prepare the requirement analysis, in order to obtain approval for the necessary budget from the commercial manager in the US group.

“However, we were able to demonstrate on the basis of operational benefits that the higher initial investment – in comparison with competitor products – would quickly prove profitable,”he says.

Production engineers atATG are now able to grind the entire range of shafts on just one machine. Furthermore, the S31 cylindrical grinding machine is easily accessible for workpiece and grinding wheel set-up, despite the complete enclosure.
For further information www.studer.com