Swiss-type lathes, known for their precision and efficiency in manufacturing small, complex parts, have traditionally relied on fixed tooling and meticulous setup to achieve the desired accuracy. However, the integration of scanning probes into Swiss-type machines has been a topic of interest for enhancing in-process measurement and ensuring part quality.
The Role of Scanning Probes
Scanning probes, unlike traditional touch-trigger probes, offer the ability to traverse a part’s surface, collecting continuous data points that map out the feature’s form, size, and position. This continuous data collection is particularly beneficial for complex geometries where multiple data points are necessary to ensure accuracy.
Advantages of Scanning Probes in Swiss-Type Lathes
- Enhanced Precision: Scanning probes can measure features with high resolution, ensuring that even the slightest deviations from the desired measurements are detected and corrected.
- In-Process Measurement: The ability to measure parts during the machining process allows for immediate feedback and adjustments, reducing the need for post-process inspection.
- Tooling Capacity Considerations: While Swiss-type lathes have limited tooling capacity, the benefits of a scanning probe can outweigh the cost of sacrificing one tool position, especially for complex parts requiring stringent quality control.
Case Study: Karlheinz Lehmann GmbH
A practical example of the successful implementation of a scanning probe in a Swiss-type lathe comes from Karlheinz Lehmann GmbH. The company faced a challenge in machining a steel quick coupling with stringent parallelism requirements for its slots. Utilizing a Blum-Novotest TC76-Digilog scanning touch probe on a Marubeni Citizen-Cincom M32 Swiss-type lathe, they were able to verify the dimensional accuracy of the slots in-process, ensuring that the parallelism tolerance of 2 microns was not exceeded.
Conclusion
The decision to incorporate a scanning probe into a Swiss-type lathe depends on various factors, including the complexity of the parts being machined, the precision required, and the willingness to allocate tooling space for the probe. However, for manufacturers prioritizing part quality and seeking to streamline their measurement processes, a scanning probe can be a valuable addition to a Swiss-type machine.
In conclusion, while Swiss-type lathes are designed for efficiency with limited tooling capacity, the integration of a scanning probe can provide significant advantages in terms of precision and in-process control, making it a sensible choice for certain applications.