Voith Turbo relies on Fanuc to incorporate new machines in his production team

Hanover central station, only five minutes are required to attach the Inter City Express from Hamburg to Bremen, tariffs so that jointly continue their journey towards Munich. This is a technical feat, which is basically responsible for the so-called Scharfenberg coupling. This module is a familiar term for the railway enthusiasts from long ago. The mechanical principle was developed, patented and marketed in 1903. To date, more than 300,000 links Scharfenberg, reaching a share of the global market in the field of the systems of automatic coupling of 70 per cent have provided. This coupling is used in virtually all European national railways, as well as numerous lines of high speed and systems of tram and metro around the world.

The docking system is produced by Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH in Salzgitter. This company belongs since 1998 to Voith Turbo, specialist in drive technology for applications in industry, rail, road and marine. Voith Turbo (along with the fields of the paper, energy and industrial services) is one of the four pillars of the Voith group, one of the most important engineering companies in Germany.

The globalization of markets and the growing demands of clients as under times of development and delivery represent new challenges for Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH. This affects, among others, the Department of product development, designing flexible systems around the proven principle of Scharfenberg, that unites not only trains mechanically, but also provides for pneumatic connections and transmits electrical signals. The docking system is part of a system of shock, which acts as a zone of deformation scheduled in case of accident and ensures the absorption and elimination of energy.

Another highlight of the Salzgitter plant is the economic viability of the production. Its director, Hartmut Stöber, launched last year five new lathes, including two Spinner TC 110 (one with subcabezal - SMCY and the other with counterpoint and Lunette TC 110 L - 110 CT MCY). Explains: "both machines are equipped with motorized tools and an axis, providing each of them up twelve motorized tools and allowing a complete machining." "In this way has been possible to reduce the time machining and processing in this area up to 70 percent."

The reasons for it not only are the machines, but also the processes that have been optimized in the course of this investment in new plant and equipment. Even the tools facilitate a greater power of court, which also gives an increase in productivity as a result.

In addition to stability and compact size of the machines, should mention the high torque of 2000 Newtons per minute, the stable VDI 50 tools and the passing of head of 110 mm.

Before making the decision, it was necessary to consider another issue: the fact that virtually all visited Spinner machines had a GE Fanuc CNC control system, and until then had not used any product of Fanuc in Voith Turbo Scharfenberg. In discussions with users with experience in Fanuc dissipated the doubts and discovered numerous strong points, with the result that in the end properties such as reliability, ease of management, service and price were the determinants of the choice.

FANUC GE made it possible that the production team is familiar with the management of the system of control and Manual Guide i through software on a PC already before making the purchase of the machines.

In Voith Turbo Scharfenberg programming is done on the machine. In the case of series of between 1 and 100 units, it was necessary to write large number of programmes.

The so-called fixed menus, mechanical engineers or end users can create individually, are also considered very useful by the programmer. This can create patterns established so small program, such as complex programs and since these routines to insert them into the program just by pressing a key. In the same way you can add explanations or comments, that the operator can be called directly from the machine.

With all the advantages that the control system can offer, the Manager Uwe Jürgens stresses, however, that: "naturally, we primarily have bought lathes extensively equipped, with which we can carry out a complete machining." The additional axes, however, make more complex programming. This is where the control of CNC GE Fanuc 18i deserves us the most positive assessment, as we have been able to assimilate quickly its operation. "This has contributed significantly to our success."

Voith Turbo Scharfenberg produces a wide range of parts. Spinner TC110 with subcabezal is equipped with a store's load of 80 bars, which fuels rods of diameters ranging from 30 mm to 80 mm. All parts of the spectrum, in series of sizes from 1 up to 100 pieces, and in part with complex work of milling, are produced on this machine.

Specialists in links

The continuously improved coupling "schaku" is used throughout the world in railway applications ranging from tram to high-speed trains. Voith Turbo Scharfenberg covers today, as a provider of systems exclusively in the world, the consumption of energy in the frontal zone of rail vehicles. Whether links (with bending up in two points), boards, shock of shocks, mobile skirts, covers or the front of vehicles, including the control electronics.

The Spinner TC classical line

The TC series of Spinner offers lathes in general use for demanding users. The range of models covers diameters from 200 mm to 600 mm and lengths of turning from 500 mm to 1,600 mm. The standard functions include the conversational programming, absolute encoders without position of reference, a rigid frame of cast iron and guides hardened and ground for an optimal damping of the vibrations.

Turrets servo high-speed with 12/16 AC stations of tools (time of positioning of 0.15 seconds) that can be equipped with motorized tools are available as optional. Integrated security technology prevents accidents and crashes. Its compact dimensions mean that it only has a minimum area in the workshop.