AMF complete solution with clamping pillars accelerates automation
Eye for eye, clamp for clamp – application F.X. Meiller
The clamping equipment experts from AMF in close coordination with the employees of the tipper manufacturer, have developed a complete solution with hydraulic clamping elements and zero-point clamping technology, which is flexible and fast.
When the F.X. MEILLER GmbH & Co. KG based in Munich with two machining centres and one loading system automated the production of cylinder eyes, bearing eyes and other hydraulic parts, it certainly increased the availability of machines significantly, but it appears that the retooling during productive cycles can be significantly compressed. In collaboration with the clamping equipment experts from AMF a complete solution was developed. The investment decision then surprised the Meiller employees.
The complete solution from AMF consists of two clamping pillars each with six zero point clamping elements and different base holders as well as six thrust pieces for clamping from above. In addition, there are reducing rings for different diameters of the workpieces, various small parts and the hydraulic system. The work has been made easier due to practical accessories as well. Today, workpieces are simply clamped at the lower level, removed after the first machining process and placed at the upper level.
"Clamping can be done quickly and easily at both levels," according to Gistl. This procedure has an additional benefit: The parts do not have to be temporarily stored anymore after the first machining. Each time the pallet moves out of the machine to set-up, at least three finished parts can be removed. Partially machined parts move from the lower to the upper level and new, unmachined blanks are clamped in the lower level. "Not all places have to be occupied here, however, which further increases flexibility."
Everything takes place with high repetition accuracy, short retooling times and faster than the machining time of the machine. This now runs longer - due to the higher number of workpieces - and can also work during the breaks and lunch break, for example.
"Everything that AMF has developed and delivered has worked great one hundred percent from the start," emphasises Karl Greckl, industrial foreman of hydraulics production at F.X. Meiller. He attributes this to the intensive and direct exchange of information, which Drexl also emphasises: "It was good and important that we were able to communicate with the designer at AMF without making detours through other departments. A deep understanding of our needs was noticeable immediately."
Those at AMF feel exactly the same way: "We were in close contact throughout the entire development period in order to optimise all requirements pertaining to the flexibility of the clamping solution."