TPT November 2023

TECHNOLOGY

RO-RA Aviation relies on Vericut simulation and optimisation software

precision parts for the aviation industry. The products include tension and push rods, high precision components and mechanisms used in civil or business jets, helicopters and their engines. “Pre-development, calculation, design and qualification, as well as prototype production are essential components of our business model,” emphasised managing director Helmut Wiesenberger. One success factor at RO-RA is

RO-RA Aviation Systems GmbH produces complex, high-precision and difficult-to-machine components. With demands for high quality components, it is essential that processes are safe and stable. For maximum process reliability and the best possible performance, RO-RA uses Vericut CNC simulation, verification and optimisation software, including the Vericut Force milling module. The result: no more machine crashes and time savings of up to 25 per cent per component. RO-RA has been taking care of the technical equipment of aircraft of all kinds since 2006. The company, which is based in Schörfling am Attersee, Upper Austria, and currently has 190 employees, primarily develops and produces functional assemblies and

CGTech’s Vericut simulation and optimisation software has helped to improve process reliability

art machine tools and around 90 per cent automation, including seven robot stations, workpieces up to a maximum diameter of 300mm or 850mm x 700mm x 500mm (X/Y/Z) can be machined almost around the clock. The components at RO-RA, somewhere around 3,000 different pieces, often have highly complex geometries. They need to be highly accurate and have the best possible surfaces – a combination that makes cost-effective manufacturing extremely challenging. Among other things, RO RA manufactures complex connectors made of aluminium for aircraft fuel lines, in which the machining rate is around 95 per cent. The component must also be non-conductive in that the surfaces must be perfectly processed. Previously RO-RA experienced machine crashes despite CAM simulation, which resulted in downtimes and service calls. In order to avoid this and increase process reliability, RO-RA introduced CGTech’s Vericut simulation and optimisation software in 2018 after a selection process. “In order to produce such sophisticated milled components efficiently and economically, we were looking for a software solution that simulates our NC programs in advance and checks them for any problems, such as collisions,” Mr Fellinger said.

the digitalisation of development and manufacturing processes. This includes the networking of all engineering and testing processes in the company. “By setting up digital twins in product and process development, we achieve significant improvements in time-to market,” Mr Wiesenberger continued. In addition, flexible automation systems in production, create competitiveness because it achieves the highest possible production capacity, even for complex engine parts made of superalloys. This is one of the reasons why the order situation at RO RA is excellent again after the difficult “Corona years”. “Both our current capacity utilisation and the outlook for next year make me very confident,” said Mr Wiesenberger. Patrick Fellinger, head of engineering at RO-RA, said: “With our manufacturing technologies, we are able to produce highly complex geometries as well as gears very economically by means of skiving or hobbing.” The machinery is likewise high quality. With more than 30 state-of-the

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NOVEMBER 2023