Aircraft concept part for Okuma Winter Showcase
Landing gear failsafe and fixturing
One of the key demonstrations at the 2017 Okuma Partners in THINC Winter Showcase, which will be in Charlotte, NC, December 5 and 6, will feature a modular approach to enable manufacturers to generate high-precision 5-axis parts without investing in a dedicated 5-axis machining center.
The part chosen is a representative aerospace landing gear component and will utilize the combined products and capabilities of Okuma, which will supply an Okuma GENOS M56O-V machining center, Hainbuch America (precision workholding), Kennametal (tooling), Haimer USA (shrink fit toolholders), MP Systems (high-pressure coolant and chiller systems), Lyndex-Nikken (5-axis rotary tables), Blaser Swisslube (mineral oil based coolant) and Siemens PL (systems software).
"This demonstration, and the others that will be presented, provides a vivid example of the success that can be achieved when companies work together to create optimal solutions to defined customer challenges," said Wade Anderson, Okuma Product Specialist and Tech Center Manager. "Much of the current manufacturing environment is characterized by the need for complex parts produced in small- to medium-batch quantities. As parts requiring 5-axis machining have become more in demand, especially in industries such as aerospace and medical, manufacturers are faced with the problem of justifying a dedicated 5-axis machine for a limited number of parts or parts families. Working together, our Partners in THINC have devised a solution that will enable their customers to achieve 5-axis capability and high precision without incurring a prohibitive financial commitment."
John Soukup, team leader and Regional Sales Manager (Southeast) at Hainbuch America Corporation, said, "The part that we chose for this demonstration is representative of landing gear components used in the aerospace industry. Constructed of 7075 T-6 heat-treated aluminum, the part will be clamped on the I.D. by a Hainbuch MANDO Adapt workholding system affixed to an 8 inches Nikken 5-axis rotary table. The Hainbuch system is versatile in that the unit can be used for both I.D. and O.D. applications. The I.D. application features a system that incorporates both hardened steel clamps and patented elastomer segments that provide maximum clamping force without marring the part finish. The Nikken rotary table is equipped with a carbide worm screw and an iron-nitride worm wheel that hold accuracies of +4 sec."
The Kennametal tooling package includes the 7792 high-feed cutters with 6 mm inserts, carbide end mills with titanium diboride coating, a Romicron boring system for the large bore application, as well as drills of various diameters.
Comprehensive tool management will be achieved through the use of Kennametal's NOVO digital tools. Tooling will be equipped for delivery of high-pressure coolant.
Precision performance will be ensured through the use of Haimer shrink fit toolholders and balancing equipment. Because of the incorporation of induction coil heating, the Haimer system delivers more than twice the clamping force. The balancing process reduces vibration and results in longer tooling life, better finishes and improved boring performance.
For the demonstration, Blaser Swisslube has selected Vasco 6000, an ester based "Liquid Tool" chosen for its effectiveness in high-heat hard machining operations. A high-pressure coolant and chiller system from MP Systems operating at 1,000 PSI and 8 gallons per minute will facilitate faster cutting and drilling by efficiently evacuating chips while maintaining thermal control to prevent distortion.
Siemens PL (Product Lifecycle) NX, an integrated CAD and CAM platform, will ensure correct geometries and provide full digital modeling capabilities. In the event of any changes, the system will reconfigure toolpaths and ancillary modifications.
Despite the seeming complexity of the system, the entire 5-axis modification can be easily removed from the machine table and stored for future use.
"This is the sixth year of our Partners in THINC Winter Showcase, and over that time we have seen how, working together, we not only solve specific application problems but also advance technology as a whole," Anderson said. "If I had to summarize why our partnership has worked so well, it is because all of us are intent on delivering `the best from the best.'"
For more information contact:
Partners in THINC & Okuma America Headquarters
12428 Sam Neely Road
Charlotte, NC 28278
704-588-7000
www.okuma.com/partners-in-thinc