Page 87 - Modular design for machine tools

Basic Knowledge: What Is the Modular Design? 53

TABLE 1-4 Some Examples of Modular Design in NC Turning Machines (1970s and
1980s)

Manufacturers Types Leading specifications Modular design aspects
Swing: 300 mm Turret: four types
Osaka Kikou
(1976) T55-N Max. spindle speed: (square, Hexagon,
2000 rpm. drum & twin-turret)
Swing over carriage:
Hitachi Seiki NH-500 515 mm Turret head: two types
(1976) Max. spindle speed: Tailstock (available )
2000 rpm.
Main spindle: two types
Gildemeister Max. work diameter: Cross slide: three types
(1977) Fronter type 250 mm Tooling system: turret type
or block tooling system
Main spindle: two types
Turret allocation: three types
Pickup spindle for rear
Traub TNS-30/42D machining (available)
(1987) Rotating tool (available)
In case of one turret,
tailstock and cutoff
tool slide (available)

with modular design to have the firsthand view of their characteristic
features on that day.
In addition, the underestimate of the modular design was accelerated
with the advent of the GC (grinding center), although the flexibility of
the manufacturing facilities was again a primary concern in the begin-
ning of the 1980s. This trend was caused by the shortening of the prod-
uct life and decreasing the batch size derived from the rapidly increasing
speed of both the product and the production process innovations. In due
course, the MC with larger rigidity can execute grinding with satisfac-
tory quality, whereas the GC has greater capability of grinding the
ceramics of Al O , Si N , and ZrO types. The Mori Seiki has been on the
2
4
2
3
3
market, an MC of simultaneous quinary-axis control type (type: M-
400C1) for the users, e.g., turbine blade and propeller manufacturers.
This machine has furthermore the function of GC by the increase of spin-
dle speed and positive use of larger rigidity of the machine in the mid-
1990s. The Rolls-Royce has also employed the MC of Makino make to
produce the Inconel aircraft engine parts, e.g., compressor blade, tur-
bine blade, and engine casing, instead of a creep-feed grinder in the late
1990s, showing major savings in capital investment, production cost, and
lead times. The characteristic feature is that the small grinding wheels,
each with the profile of a specific feature on the component, are held in
the tool magazine [26].