With a high-precision machining center placed in the Institute for Machine Tools and Production Processes, researchers are entering into a new dimension in micromanufacturing. “Thanks to high-precision 5-axis-kinematics, hydrostatic axes and guideways and comprehensive temperature management within the machine, we can produce surface structures with micrometer precision and work accurately on the scale of tiny bacteria,” said Dr. Andreas Schubert, Head of the Professorship Micromanufacturing Technology. A high-precision machining center manufactured by KERN Microtechnik will allow for the application of various different machining technologies, including micro-drilling, high-polish milling and micro-milling as well as grinding in combination with various cooling and lubrication strategies, in order to generate surface characteristics that adequately meet the challenges related to the application field being addressed. The new machine, with a total value of approximately 700,000 euros, was configured especially according to the specifications of the Professorship Micromanufacturing Technology and was financed by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft as well as the Saxon State Ministry for Higher Education, Research and the Arts using state funds.
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Michael Leibnitz (l.) and Dr. Andreas Schubert discuss a series of tests at the new high-precision machining center. Photo: Pressefoto Schmidt
Related Glossary Terms
- gang cutting ( milling)
gang cutting ( milling)
Machining with several cutters mounted on a single arbor, generally for simultaneous cutting.
- grinding
grinding
Machining operation in which material is removed from the workpiece by a powered abrasive wheel, stone, belt, paste, sheet, compound, slurry, etc. Takes various forms: surface grinding (creates flat and/or squared surfaces); cylindrical grinding (for external cylindrical and tapered shapes, fillets, undercuts, etc.); centerless grinding; chamfering; thread and form grinding; tool and cutter grinding; offhand grinding; lapping and polishing (grinding with extremely fine grits to create ultrasmooth surfaces); honing; and disc grinding.
- machining center
machining center
CNC machine tool capable of drilling, reaming, tapping, milling and boring. Normally comes with an automatic toolchanger. See automatic toolchanger.
- micrometer
micrometer
A precision instrument with a spindle moved by a finely threaded screw that is used for measuring thickness and short lengths.
- milling
milling
Machining operation in which metal or other material is removed by applying power to a rotating cutter. In vertical milling, the cutting tool is mounted vertically on the spindle. In horizontal milling, the cutting tool is mounted horizontally, either directly on the spindle or on an arbor. Horizontal milling is further broken down into conventional milling, where the cutter rotates opposite the direction of feed, or “up” into the workpiece; and climb milling, where the cutter rotates in the direction of feed, or “down” into the workpiece. Milling operations include plane or surface milling, endmilling, facemilling, angle milling, form milling and profiling.
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