No crash, no bang, no wallop

Collisions on machining centres can cause costly damage to the spindle as well as other machine parts, not to mention the workpiece. To avoid these issues GF Machining Solutions has developed its Machine and Spindle Protection (MSP) feature.

Collisions that can damage a machine tool’s spindle are most likely to occur when a new job is being set up or first attempted. The total cost for spindle repair/replacement can often exceed the price of the unit itself when taking into account that other machine components might also be damaged by the collision, as well as lost production time while the machine is down for repair.

As a result, GF Machining Solutions developed the Machine and Spindle Protection (MSP) feature for its Mikron machining centres.

The MSP feature is comparable to the Integrated Collision Protection (ICP) capability that has been available on AgieCharmilles wire EDM machines for some time. The system for the wire machines has energy absorbing, spring loaded ballscrews on the linear axes and two types of positioning sensors for each axis – a rotary encoder and a glass scale. If the location detected by the rotary encoder and glass scale for a given axis differ by a predetermined amount (meaning a collision is occurring), the system stops machine motion within microseconds before damage occurs.

Similarly, the MSP feature for milling machines uses a mechanical system that enables the spindle to deflect slightly in X-, Y- and Z-axes during a collision. A sensor system detects this deflection and stops machine motion before the spindle/spindle bearings are damaged.

GF Machining Solutions guarantees that the MSP feature will prevent spindle damage at travel speeds of 12m/minute. or less. In fact, an M304 code was developed to cap the rapid feed of the linear axes at that rate. Once a new part program is proven out and it is determined that there will be no collisions during the operation, a subsequent M305 code disables the MSP feature and enables the machine to run at normal production speeds.

GF Machining Solutions www.gfms.com/uk