EuroWire July 2020

Manufacturing Technology

CNC control app for automated dressing CNC machine tool and process optimisation expert Okuma, working together with Dr Kaiser Diamantwerkzeuge GmbH & Co KG, has developed a new control app for CNC programs.

The e cient and easy-to-use Okuma Dressing App is described as one of the most innovative dressing technologies on the market. The control application calculates all dressing parameters, independently reads the available data and transfers the values directly to the CNC program, removing the need for manual calculations and double entries. Recognising the importance of selecting the right dressing parameters, such as dressing speed ratio or dressing feed rate, Okuma and Dr Kaiser Diamantwerkzeuge analysed the possibilities o ered by existing apps and the parameters needed to further optimise the grinding process. The conclusion was that user-friendliness and e ciency were missing. The Okuma Dressing App can be opened and operated directly from the main screen of the controller. The user only has to enter the geometry of the dresser and the required values for speed ratio, infeed depth and overlaying amount. The app then automatically transfers the necessary values for feed rate, cutting depth, dressing speed and direction of rotation to the CNC program or the Dr Kaiser inverter, as required.

In a test cut, the control automatically read out the grinding wheel speed and diameter and from these calculated the peripheral speed. The app used this value to determine the speed of the dressing wheel, with reference to the selected speed ratio. The Okuma Dressing App can create constant cutting conditions over the entire grinding wheel and keep the speed ratio constant, even with large steps in the contour. Okuma Europe GmbH www.okuma.eu ▲ The Okuma Dressing App can be operated from the main screen of the controller

The turning of the screw in metal pre-treatment for cold forming operations Henkel Adhesive Technologies has enhanced the market t of its Bonderite L-FM FL portfolio of polymeric coatings for the surface conversion of metals used in cold forming operations. The optimised Bonderite L-FM FL process reduces the number of treatment steps, from as many as ten, to one or two, and is an alternative in the production of high-performance automotive bolts and screws. Medium carbon or alloy steel grades designed for cold formed threaded fasteners in property classes such as 8.8, 9.8, 10.9 and 12.9 require a prior surface conversion process to create a thin, adherent coating that will facilitate deformation and ensure the quality of the nal product. In the automotive industry, these cold formed screws and bolts are used in a wide range of engine, powertrain, suspension, wells and other demanding applications. Traditional zinc phosphating and reactive soap processes, although well established in metal pre-treatment for cold deformation, are associated with a number of potential drawbacks, including high acidity, high energy consumption and phosphate sludge. They can also involve up to ten individual steps, from initial degreasing and pickling to activation, phosphating and soaping, with frequent intermediate rinsing. With Bonderite L-FM FL, Henkel has developed a solution to these issues that provides a exible one-step process, reduced CO 2 impact and less water usage. Bonderite L-FM FL is a non-reactive, water-based polymeric coating that adheres to the surface physically without any reaction, so the only evaporates produced in the subsequent drying step prior to cold deformation are aqueous. As a one-step process, it eliminates all rinsing steps, which saves water, and also has a reduced energy demand with appropriately lower CO 2 emissions. When the cold formed screws are dephosphatised for nal heat treatment, the polymeric coating is easier to remove, and permits the use of a dephosphating cleaner in lower concentration, which means less consumption. In addition to the environmental bene ts, the Bonderite L-FM FL technology is characterised by its reduced complexity over zinc phosphating. As a single-bath process, it minimises equipment footprint and maintenance. Raw material surface properties require initial sand blasting or pickling and neutralising, but the conversion cycle is simpli ed to a single step and operates at a temperature between 40°C and 50°C, providing time and energy savings. Overall productivity is enhanced by the lubricity and pressure resistance, in comparison with traditional zinc phosphating processes, which results in longer extrusion die life, and has been con rmed in industrial-scale applications. Henkel Italia Srl www.henkel.com

EF 11/45

www.read-eurofasteners.com

July 2020