Design World – August 2019

22 August 2019 http://www.designworldonline.com DESIGN WORLD

Machine Tool

Design for Industry

System prevents machine tool

spindle crashes

N

Nobody wants to hear the words

that a machine tool crashed. When

clamped tools, such as a drill or

a milling cutter, collide with a

workpiece, the resulting impact force

is often tremendous. Such force can

damage or completely destroy a

cutting spindle or even worse, the

machine itself. Just one spindle crash,

for instance, can easily accrue to more

than $30,000 in repairs in addition to

production losses.

Shops must have a way to protect

their machine tool investments.

The Machine & Spindle Protection

(MSP) system works in all directions.

During operation, the MSP allows the

machine spindle to deflect when the

force acting on the cutting tool during

a collision reaches a strength that

would damage the spindle bearing in

the event of another surge. With this

deflection of the spindle, the machine

axis drives have the distance required

to initiate an automatic emergency

braking system.

The length of the braking distance

depends on the speed of travel and is

limited by the clearance gained. With

the MSP mode active, feed rates up to

12 m/min (472 in./min) will still ensure

machine braking without damage,

regardless of direction. This feed rate

does not limit general machining

operations because usual cutting

feeds are slower in most materials.

To simply run the machine within

the safe MSP limits, for example when

running a program for the first time,

When the Machine & Spindle Protection (MSP) system is active, feed

rates up to 12 m/min (472 in./min) will still ensure machine braking

without damage, regardless of direction.

Dante Payva • Milling Product Manager at GF Machining Solutions

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