EROWA launches a range of new products for the ‘Smart Factory’
Automation and productivity specialist, EROWA, recently launched a range of products designed to help manufacturing companies take steps towards a ‘smarter’ and, therefore, more efficient, and sustainable factory. All of these, and more, are available from the Swiss company’s exclusive partner in the UK and Eire, REM Systems.
These new products include a bench-top electrode pre-setter and a wireless digital zero-point clamping system, as well as an extensive range of chucks and vices developed to improve standardisation.
EROWA states there are several key stages when automating a manufacturing process, and each step will result in specific efficiency gains and business rewards. According to the automation and productivity specialist, the key stages are standardisation; organisation; automation, and integration. With each contributing towards the goal of being productive for each of the 8,760 total hours available each year.
The bench-top PreSet 2D electrode pre-setter falls under the organisation stage and could yield up to 500 productive hours per year. A development of EROWA’s popular floor-standing unit, this new model can be set on any suitable bench, thereby freeing up productive workshop space. The customisable multi-function measuring and pre-setting system allows measurements in the X-, Y-, Z- and C-axes to be carried out quickly and accurately. The data output of the measured values can be integrated into CAD/CAM software or directly into the CNC system. The pre-setting station can be equipped with various tooling systems.
The 2D edge probe is simply ingenious: the EROWA patented 2D edge probe enables users to make the necessary measurements on radii, edges, corners, and oblique surfaces. While the optional measuring microscope can be used to measure and generate diagrams of edges that are not accessible with a dial gauge or 2D edge probe. When checking concentricity, the air bearing on the C-axis provides high-precision rotational motion to identify even the most minute deviations on the electrodes.
The Heidenhain display unit offers reliable recording and easy evaluations of measured values. The practical user guidance in the EROWA mode shows users in a step-by-step mode how offset values are determined. While prepared programs facilitate the determination of offset data of electrodes and workpieces on EROWA pallets. Programs are available for all variants. With a mouse click, the recorded offset data can be transmitted to all the EROWA process control systems.
All the other new products fit within the standardisation step, such as the new Vice PowerClamp, ‘VPC’ for short, that has been introduced with industry-standard pitch dimensions of 52 or 96 mm. The VPC system delivers powerful, precise, and process-reliable clamping of vices, fixtures, and workpieces. With pneumatic control aiding automated or manual exchanges. The two VPC chuck sizes with the matching VPC clamping spigots form the foundation while the universal application possibilities open up a spectrum of workpiece production options. With the VPC system this flexibility does not come with any downside as a repeatability of better than 3 micron is achieved.
Also within this category is the world’s first zero-point clamping system with wireless digital status monitoring. The smart version of the MTS clamping system family, it provides all the information that the process control needs for safe machining.
Fully integrated into the machine tool, signals describing the status of the chuck are available. The data is sent wirelessly from the chuck to a receiver integrated in the machine. Such signals include chuck open no pallet, ready to load; chuck open with pallet, ready to unload; chuck clamped, ready to work; chuck closed no pallet, standby mode; and error, please check chuck.
Industry 4.0 ready, the new digital chuck features a wireless connection from the machine table to the radio receiver integrated into the machine tool which overcomes the challenge of signal transmission without cables. Electronic monitoring enables real-time evaluation of every chuck’s condition.
Managing Director, Ian Holbeche, explains: “The full integration of MTS 4.0 onto a CNC machine tool simply requires a base plate fitted on the table with a pneumatic air supply and an antenna for receiving the secure wireless data transmission from the chuck. Industry 4.0 centres around the power of knowledge, with preventive maintenance, predictable upkeep costs, and precise analyses of the processes supported by the available data. Using in-depth knowledge of the production steps increases the opportunities for optimization. This new zero-point clamping system from EROWA is another step towards the Smart Factory.”
Visit EROWA on Stand 20-362