Several microfinishing operations can now be carried out on a single high-precision machine in one chuck. As a result, the possibility of adding clamping errors to the process is avoided and extremely high work piece quality achieved. The machine concept is highly economical, due to another, or even several machining platforms with automation being dispensed with - and this across the entire service life, since the operating costs of only one machine are incurred.
With the MicroStar FGH, the German world market leader in the field of high precision machine tools for surface microfinishing, Thielenhaus Technologies, has launched a process combination that is now in high demand. Conventional machine tools for microfinishing jobs are usually only capable of a single process, meaning the work piece to be machined has to be transported from machine to machine and constantly reclamped. Of course, normally, excellent results can be achieved in the individual operations, but only the overall result of all the machining steps counts.
For example, in the MicroStar 285 FGH the processes finishing, grinding and honing have been brought together. The basis for this is provided by a machine with a diameter of just 120 cm that takes up very little space, featuring an indexing table with eight tool spindles. All of the tool units are installed around a central column. The roundtable concept not only guarantees excellent accessibility to all units, but also the tightest tolerances during machining. After generating a highly precise reference face on one face of the work piece all subsequent operations are carried out with the work piece clamped in one chuck. Very short cycle times are realised thanks to simultaneous processes on all stations and a positioning time of 0.8 sec.
Like honing and grinding, other process steps can also be combined with finishing on the MicroStar FGH, such as power-regulated brush deburring or reaming and band finish operations. In addition, pre-, post- and in-process measurement technology can be integrated. As with all machines in the MicroStar series, the technologies for power-regulated feed of the finish units (MicroSens) and guided tool set-up (EasyTilt) guarantee maximum process reliability. Thanks to modern sensor technology (ToolSens), the tool wear rate is controlled and the feed of the work piece spindle correspondingly adjusted. The modular concept enables a flexible conversion of the machine at all times.
As a result of the increasingly high demands on the geometry of work pieces with ever smaller tolerances, above all in the course of miniaturisation and energy-saving, the process combination is precisely what the market is demanding. The quality enhancements and faster cycle times that can be realised as a result and the considerable savings in investment and life cycle costs are a decisive advantage of this ground-breaking technology.
More information can be found at: Thielenhaus Technologies GmbH, P.O.B. 201855, 42218 Wuppertal / Germany, Telephone + 49 (0)2 02 481-0, Fax + 49 (0)2 02 45 04 45, or on the Internet at www.thielenhaus.com
With the MicroStar FGH, the German world market leader in the field of high precision machine tools for surface microfinishing, Thielenhaus Technologies, has launched a process combination that is now in high demand. Conventional machine tools for microfinishing jobs are usually only capable of a single process, meaning the work piece to be machined has to be transported from machine to machine and constantly reclamped. Of course, normally, excellent results can be achieved in the individual operations, but only the overall result of all the machining steps counts.
For example, in the MicroStar 285 FGH the processes finishing, grinding and honing have been brought together. The basis for this is provided by a machine with a diameter of just 120 cm that takes up very little space, featuring an indexing table with eight tool spindles. All of the tool units are installed around a central column. The roundtable concept not only guarantees excellent accessibility to all units, but also the tightest tolerances during machining. After generating a highly precise reference face on one face of the work piece all subsequent operations are carried out with the work piece clamped in one chuck. Very short cycle times are realised thanks to simultaneous processes on all stations and a positioning time of 0.8 sec.
Like honing and grinding, other process steps can also be combined with finishing on the MicroStar FGH, such as power-regulated brush deburring or reaming and band finish operations. In addition, pre-, post- and in-process measurement technology can be integrated. As with all machines in the MicroStar series, the technologies for power-regulated feed of the finish units (MicroSens) and guided tool set-up (EasyTilt) guarantee maximum process reliability. Thanks to modern sensor technology (ToolSens), the tool wear rate is controlled and the feed of the work piece spindle correspondingly adjusted. The modular concept enables a flexible conversion of the machine at all times.
As a result of the increasingly high demands on the geometry of work pieces with ever smaller tolerances, above all in the course of miniaturisation and energy-saving, the process combination is precisely what the market is demanding. The quality enhancements and faster cycle times that can be realised as a result and the considerable savings in investment and life cycle costs are a decisive advantage of this ground-breaking technology.
More information can be found at: Thielenhaus Technologies GmbH, P.O.B. 201855, 42218 Wuppertal / Germany, Telephone + 49 (0)2 02 481-0, Fax + 49 (0)2 02 45 04 45, or on the Internet at www.thielenhaus.com
