Finishing of hydraulic components

Description 

  • Loading and unloading five independently-operating stations of an assembly line with handling modules
  • Removing the hydraulic components that are to be machined from workpiece pallets and returning the finished parts to the pallets

Requirements

For quality and productivity-related reasons, the end customer wanted to completely change the machining process, which was previously handled at two manual workstations.

Solution

A distinct linear axis concept with a total of five machining stations:

  • Installation of 5 electrical spindle booms SA-3-050, 1 portal axis PEZ-80-800, 1 portal axis PEZ-65-1600, 1 portal axis PEZ-65-1200 and 1 spindle boom SA-6-100
  • Furthermore 5 rotation modules and 5 gripper modules
  • 12 pneumatic CS series compact slides
  • 7 compact CR series rotation modules as well as two universal grippers

The Afag standard range of columns, including connecting element accessories, was used for the setup of the electric as well as pneumatic portal and handling modules.
14 SE-Power complete controls are used for controlling the 14 electric handling modules.

The feeding station for two variants of spring contact probes was supplied as a ready-to-fit unit for serial assembly.

Benefits according to customer

  • Afag modules were a very good fit because, with minimum effort and using standard components and connecting elements, we were able to achieve all required handling configurations
  • The robust yet highly precise mechanics as well as the drive technology of the electric modules also facilitated the setup of the machining stations with regard to picking up the workpiece
  • The plant's high degree of autonomy compared to the previous setup meant that we could double the output while using significantly less personnel, and that the machined parts boasted a consistent, reproducible and top quality
  • We were able to exclude certain functional risks from the outset by mostly using standardised handling and feeding components