Carbon Fibre End Fitting Press
This customer needed a 4 metre long press to push end fittings on to a carbon fibre tube/shaft. It was important that they get pushed on square to the shaft to keep the run out as low as possible
It was also important to maintain the correct overall length.
Stiffness of the press therefor was really important. A clever system of a bolted structure was designed and a FEA study produced to check stiffness. To manufacture the base assembly its was machined from large flash ground plates and the bolted assembly was finished machined in one operation on a very large milling machine. This ensured the linear rails would bolt to a surface that was as flat as possible.
Linear Motion
The linear motion was provided by a Bosch Planetary Roller Screw and roller linear guides. Powered by a Siemens servo motor and drive. This provided a system capable of not flexing under the load we exerted on to it, whilst being able to move the pushing carriage 1micron at a time if we so desired.
Buckling Calculations
100kN of force on a shaft would buckle the shaft whilst being pressed. A system of vee clamps was developed to enable different diameters of shafts to be picked up and held exactly on centre line. Enough clamps were added to ensure the shaft would stay straight, if the shaft doesn’t bend it wont break just take the load we apply to it. Carbon fibre doesn’t like to bend too much without exploding!
Labview Software
The software was required to run the machine and also communicate with the factory data collection system for traceability. A National Instruments Labview system was chosen and programmed by Incotech.
Project Completion
The 4m long press, was professionally transported to the customers site and recommissioned by Incotech. Handover included training of the operators, manufacturing engineers and maintenance personnel
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