Current Process
Conventional cutting processes use an abrasive chop saw, band saw, lathe cutoff, or shear cutting machine. Each method has its disadvantages. Tooling wears quickly and is expensive, driving up costs.
Challenges
The material used to manufacture aerospace fasteners is difficult to cut using conventional equipment. Cutting oil is expensive, messy, and creates a hazardous work area. Band saws leave a rough surface finish and inaccurate length tolerance, requiring secondary processing. Cutting bars individually on a lathe is a slow process limiting output per shift. The thickness of the lathe cutoff tools wastes expensive material, generating a high cost per cut. Carbide tooling wears quickly leaving a large burr. The burr gets worse as the tool wears. Shear cutting is very loud and leaves a deformed end. Conventional saws are noisy and have minimal safety features.
Solution
CS1-A Precision Abrasive Cutoff Machine
CS1-A Precision Abrasive Cutoff Machine features superb accuracy and multiple bar cutting.
Multiple bars can be cut at the same time increasing overall throughput.
Cutoff wheels are generally .025” to .045” thick, limiting kerf loss and reducing tooling costs.
The CS1-A easily holds +/-.001” length tolerances on most cuts, leaving parts with a smooth surface finish, typically between .4-.8 RA.
Cuts with water-based coolant not cutting oil.
Burr is minimal and consistent throughout the life of the blade, reducing the need for downstream operations.
The simple, color touch-screen HMI makes it easy to set up, load, and operate.
The stainless steel design features an enclosed work area providing a clean and safe work environment, meeting CE and ISO 13849 machine safety standards. It produces less than 80db during the cutting cycle.
