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Distributed in North America by Parker Industries Inc., Affolter Technologies SA presents its most recent innovation. "The GEAR AF110 sets a new benchmark in regards to flexibility, high precision and stiffness. It is tailored to the needs of all micro motor industries, such as automotive, aircraft, dental and medical equipment, and watchmaking," states Marc-Alain Affolter, Managing Director of the Swiss family enterprise. The AF110 complements the existing GEAR product line towards the realization of larger parts with diameters of up to 40mm and a module of up to 1.0mm.
In 2010, the Affolter R&D team in Switzerland started to design the AF110. The result is a robust and flexible gear hobbing center, according to the company. "Compared to the AF100, we doubled the clamping force to 1000 newton. Torque and stiffness of the spindles were increased, the Y-axis is more robust and there is only one clamping axis moving, optimizing the overall rigidity and minimizing vibrations," explains Affolter.
The AF110 is compact, using the same base and volume as the AF100. The Affolter experts are currently developing the add-on "Unit 90": After a quick changeover, the AF110 will be able to perform worm milling operations.
Marc-Alain Affolter said:, "We will introduce this optional feature in the second part of 2014." The Affolter engineers aimed to reduce cycle times to make the machine as productive as possible. The AF110 is equipped with the user-friendly, internally developed CNC Leste control, making communication with the micro gear hobbing center easy and quick.
Related Glossary Terms
- computer numerical control ( CNC)
computer numerical control ( CNC)
Microprocessor-based controller dedicated to a machine tool that permits the creation or modification of parts. Programmed numerical control activates the machine’s servos and spindle drives and controls the various machining operations. See DNC, direct numerical control; NC, numerical control.
- gang cutting ( milling)
gang cutting ( milling)
Machining with several cutters mounted on a single arbor, generally for simultaneous cutting.
- 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.
- stiffness
stiffness
1. Ability of a material or part to resist elastic deflection. 2. The rate of stress with respect to strain; the greater the stress required to produce a given strain, the stiffer the material is said to be. See dynamic stiffness; static stiffness.
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