Transfer center
The transfer center (or: serial machine ) is a machine tool for complete machining , i.e. This means that it can completely machine a component in one setting. It closes the gap between the transfer line and the machining center . It has a higher productivity than the machining center and a higher flexibility than the transfer line .
Machine concept
Transfer centers have stationary work spindles . These are permanently mounted on a technology carrier. The workpiece is located on a carrier system that can be controlled in at least three spatial directions. In contrast to the machining center, the transfer center does not move the spindle to the workpiece, but rather the workpiece from spindle to spindle.
The spindle is not completely braked, but operated at a basic speed . The concept thus achieves extremely short non-productive times. Each tool required for machining has a spindle. This means that each spindle can be selected for the corresponding work task (speed and torque). This makes the transfer center an extremely productive machine concept. The flexibility in the direction of variant production can be increased by adding tool magazines. Such tool magazines have so far only been implemented by Anger Machining. Long-term conversion flexibility (reconfigurability) is achieved through the design. The spindles are attached to a frame with a breadboard . Not only can the spindles be replaced if necessary, but new technologies such as punching , pressing, etc. can also be implemented. The transfer center is thus a "multi-technology platform".
Development and designs
The transfer center in its current form was built in the early 1980s. It was used for the first time by the Anger company (Austria) in combination with NC controls in the field of eyewear production. Alzmetall had previously built so-called row drilling machines , which contain many of the design details of today's transfer centers. In the 1990s, Anger Machining, based in Traun, further developed the principle for metalworking and for the complex machining of precision parts. Transfer centers from various manufacturers can be found today in the global automotive industry for processing gear and engine parts, etc. a. in use at VW, BMW, Chrysler, VW, ZF, Daimler or Volvo. In the field of machine tools, the machine concept made its breakthrough with the manufacturer ELHA at EMO 1997. In recent years, other manufacturers with similar concepts have been added. These are e.g. B. SW-EMAG, Krause & Mauser, MAG Powertrain (EXCELLO), Unior and Maschinenfabrik Alfing Kessler . The main distinguishing features of the manufacturers result from the main direction of movement of the workpiece carrier and the fixation of the workpiece carrier. In the case of vertical series machines, the work spindles are predominantly distributed vertically over the machine frame or technology carrier. The spindle position is almost exclusively horizontal. In horizontal in-line machines, the spindle blocks are predominantly distributed horizontally and the spindle position is predominantly vertical.
Individual evidence
- ^ Brecher, C .; Zeidler, D. (2007): Efficient large-scale production of aggregate components for the automotive industry. ZWF 102 (2007) H. 10, pp. 645-64
- ↑ a b c d Behrendt, A. (2009): Development of a model for production system planning in machining. Shaker Published by Aachen.
- ↑ Heisel, U., et al. (2010): Intelligent (re-) configured transfer centers. Increased efficiency in production through agent-based manufacturing system planning. In: wt workshop technology online. Volume 100 (2010), pp. 553–558.
- ↑ Anger (no year)
- ↑ Charchut / Tschätsch, W. Charchut, Hanser Verlag (1984) Machine Tools, p. 197
- ↑ Posselt, PP; Cloud, M. (2005): An (almost) new concept is gaining acceptance. In: WB Werkstatt und Betrieb (2005) 138, pp. 115–119
- ^ Neugebauer, E. (2010): Manufacturing at its best. In: Manufacturing (04/2010)