The need for higher productivity, greater workpiece accuracy as well as lower costs is putting continuous pressure on manufacturers. In order to meet these demands, smart investments in machining technology are needed. Fortunately, finish hard turning is a process that can help manufacturers meet these challenging demands. Hembrug, a Dutch manufacturer and worldwide supplier of high precision finish hard turning machines and hybrid machines with turn/grind capabilities, has a machine for every need and application.
Finish hard turning is not a new machining technique, and, in fact, it is little different from working with a conventional CNC turning lathe. The process is easy to set up and change over and therefore offers advantages in a high mix, low volume production environment. Another advantage and perhaps the greatest, is the ease with which complex contours can be made. These are easily generated by the CNC slide position with standard available tooling. In combination with an OD and ID machining requirement in one set-up, turning is unbeatable from a flexibility point of view.
What sets the Hembrug Mikroturn machines apart from standard CNC machines is in the achievable accuracy. Workpiece accuracy is on par with grinding, even in tungsten carbide. Form and size accuracies < 2 µm and surface roughness Ra < 0.4 µm in hardened steel (up to 70 HRC) are indicative for achievable precision. A Mikroturn lathe allows any manufacturer to create ready-to-use, high precision workpieces directly from a hardened state without the need for any additional finishing process.
On a mutual test with tool supplier DTS, Hembrug's Mikroturn 100 proved that it is even possible to machine tungsten carbide workpieces with a cobalt percentage of 6% and a sub-micron grain size. With the help of an ultra-diamant tool, a surface finish quality (Ra) of 0.04 micron and form and size tolerances of ≤ 1 micron was achieved.
One of the key success factors to be able to do this is the hydrostatic bearing technology. This in-house developed technology is applied in both the guideways and work spindle in every Mikroturn machine, dampening vibrations at the tool tip. This high dynamic rigidity (= damping) is essential for achieving sub-micron surface finish accuracies and extended tool life. The absence of metal contact between the moving machine components means it is wear-free with low operational costs and lasting accuracy.
Hembrug offers several machines, each designed for a specific type of workpiece depending on size and weight. The Mikroturn Horizontal Series for instance, consists of six machines, of which the Mikroturn 100 is the most widely sold. A machine with a construction like the Mikroturn Series may require a higher investment than a conventional precision lathe, but it will result in longer tool life, consistent piece to piece repetitive part accuracies and a higher productivity due to inherent platform stability requiring fewer adjustments. These are benefits that make a major contribution to the competitiveness of any manufacturer, regardless of the workpieces that are being made.
Contact Danobat to schedule a trial at its center of excellence in Chicago, IL.
Authored by Danobat, Inc.
For more information contact:
Danobat, Inc.
4080 Winnetka Ave.
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
847-250-6168
danobatinc@danobat.com
www.danobat.com
www.hembrug.com