In order to achieve the desired surface quality and precision during high-speed milling operations, the aircraft manufacturer relies on solutions provided by Haimer, comprising a wide selection of toolholders and the corresponding shrinking and balancing machines.
At Pilatus Aircraft is Switzerland’s only aircraft manufacturer and at its headquarters in Stans, Switzerland, machining structural parts plays an important role. In 2016 Pilatus invested in a modern volume-machining system in order to further improve the quality and efficiency of its production processes. Core elements of the enhanced production are two new flexible manufacturing systems that are run with full automation, guaranteeing high quality, stable production.
Walter Duss, director, milling at Pilatus points out that finely balanced tools are an absolute necessity: "Only the high balancing grade of the complete tool assembly – balanced on a Haimer balancing machine – together with Haimer toolholders can guarantee vibration-free machining and surfaces free of chatter marks,” he says. “Furthermore, the high run-out accuracy significantly increases the lifetime of the spindle and tools."
According to the experiences of Patrik Odermatt, team leader, mechanical processing and the man responsible for the internal tooling division at Pilatus, high quality toolholders that offer long-term stability and run-out accuracy definitely pay off.
It is for this reason that he has been working with Haimer in Igenhausen for many years. He uses Haimer shrink fit chucks and high-precision collet chucks together presetting, shrinking and balancing machines.
"Regarding elements such as quality, price-performance ratio, consultation and support, our experience with Haimer has been very positive," Mr Odermatt explains. "That's why we made the decision to rely on Haimer toolholding technology with our new manufacturing system.
“We exclusively use tools that are clamped into Haimer standard shrink fit chucks, ultra-short and long power shrink chucks as well as Power Mini shrink chucks, power collet chucks and special facemill arbors.”
Since Pilatus is working with many different parts that have thin wall thicknesses (≤ 1.2mm) and deep pockets, the wide range of Haimer toolholders was an important consideration. The company has demonstrated high levels of flexibility regarding the spindle interface: for the new manufacturing systems, a special HSK-A 63/80 toolholder was required. After close cooperation with Pilatus, Haimer developed a program and added it to its standard delivery portfolio.
Haimer continues to drive innovation with its patent pending mechanical locking Data-Lock system that fixes the RFID data carrier onto the toolholder. Pilatus uses this solution to ensure that the data carriers are securely fixed and cannot separate from the toolholder, even at the highest rpm.
According to Mr Odermatt, one of the benefits of working with Haimer is the fact that you can get all toolholding technology from one single source: “For every Haimer shrink fit chuck the operating parameter data is stored within the shrinking machines,” he explains. “The performance and heating time are ideal and guarantee process-reliable shrinking at the push of a button. And balancing is also easy to perform.”
A video – with English subtitles – showing the Pilatus application can be seen at: target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
Haimer UK www.haimer.com
Pilatus Aircraft AG www.pilatus-aircraft.com
