PL Lehmann, a Swiss rotary table manufacturer, has put an emphasis on preventing production downtime by “acting” instead of reacting to system failures.
“It’s far easier to schedule a repair in advance of a breakdown,” said Ivo Straessle, president of distributor Rotec Tools Ltd., which represents Switzerland-based pL Lehmann AG in North America. “We started examining preventative-maintenance tools that could help our customers avoid failures altogether or rectify problems in the shortest amount of time.”
The result is the Blackbox, a built-in monitoring system, for its 500 series rotary tables. PL Lehmann has 40-plus years of experience in manufacturing rotary tables, most of them are in demanding production environments where downtime is critical. Straessle said a monitoring system was the logical next step. “The pL Lehmann rotary tables are known for high accuracy, high spindle-clamping force and a compact design, but none of these features or functions matter if the equipment isn’t running properly.”
The Blackbox tracks vital rotary table functions, including monitoring impact to the rotary axis and gear train, checking the clamping force and temperature inside the rotary table, and monitoring internal air and oil pressure to prevent coolant or debris from entering the system.
PL Lehmann optimized its 500 series rotary tables with a built-in preventative maintenance system. Image courtesy pL Lehmann.
This data is stored and can be downloaded through a USB port at the back of the rotary table, giving operators advance notice of any potential problems. Operators can connect to the rotary table through a “remote help” function for quick analysis of the data. “This is extremely valuable in the event of an emergency or simply to better prepare our customers for potential problems that lie ahead,” Straessle said.
The front of the 500 series has a status LED display that also tracks errors and alerts customers to any potential problems. Everything the rotary table does from day one is recorded, including the date and time, and every condition is displayed for each rotary table axis.
Many preventative-maintenance tasks can be addressed by the customer if the problem is known in advance. “The Blackbox is a great tool for early detection of problems. With this system we can help the customer before ‘downtime’ occurs,” Straessle said. “For remote access, an Internet connection, a laptop and TeamViewer software is all that is required.” (TeamViewer is remote control/access software). Rotec Tools can then connect remotely to make setting adjustments, change parameters and fine-tune the equipment to better serve each application.
For more information contact Rotec Tools Ltd., Mahopac, N.Y., call (845) 621-9100 or visit www.rotectools.com. CTE
About the Author: Matt Jaster is senior editor of CTE. Contact him at (847) 714-0174 or mjaster@jwr.com.
Related Glossary Terms
- coolant
coolant
Fluid that reduces temperature buildup at the tool/workpiece interface during machining. Normally takes the form of a liquid such as soluble or chemical mixtures (semisynthetic, synthetic) but can be pressurized air or other gas. Because of water’s ability to absorb great quantities of heat, it is widely used as a coolant and vehicle for various cutting compounds, with the water-to-compound ratio varying with the machining task. See cutting fluid; semisynthetic cutting fluid; soluble-oil cutting fluid; synthetic cutting fluid.
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