Mobility in 24 servo axes

• What was needed:  E2-energy chain,  E4-energy chain,  e-tube
• Requirements: Robust and compact energy chains were required to supply the clamping beams. A reliable guide solution for a high cable weight over a length of 18 metres had to be found for the entire gantry. And a flexible cable routing for 3D movement was to be used to supply the milling head.
• Industry: Machine tools
• Success for the customer: A compact E2-energy chain, a particularly robust and reliable E4-energy chain and an e-tube on the milling head provide a safe and reliable solution for the high-performance CNC system. From the user's point of view, the machine is a real milestone.

The medium-sized manufacturer auratronic specialises in sophisticated CNC machining systems. The systems for the precise machining of plastic, wood or aluminium are individually designed for each customer and each task. This was also the case with the construction of a CNC mechanism for a manufacturer of aluminium balconies: The basic task for this project was clearly defined: Thick-walled aluminium profiles with a length of up to 18 m were to be clamped and flexibly processed by a portal. In order to minimise the set-up processes, 16 profiles can be clamped simultaneously and controlled in one clamping operation. One of the design challenges was to equip the gantry and the 16 CNC-controlled clamping beams with a movable energy supply system.
The special features of the machine include high travelling speeds (up to 60 m/min. and 24 m/min. for the clamping beams in the feed) and the 24 powerful servo axes. Safety laser scanners monitor the area surrounding the CNC system. To ensure optimised machining processes, the system is integrated into the end customer's CAD/CAM system. With the corresponding software package, the designers can simulate the respective processes in advance. The software also determines the position of the clamping beams and, under certain circumstances, causes the beam to be "repositioned" during the process: after all, it must be possible to process the profile at all points.

auratronic regularly works with us when planning new machines. And for the newly designed AT 520 SBZ CNC machine, the specialist has also opted for our product portfolio in the field of energy supply systems. The machine tool utilises 24 fully assembled energy supply systems from our company.
First of all, the 16 clamping beams had to be supplied with energy and signals over a length of 12,500 mm. The E2-energy chains used here are robust and particularly compact, so that the gantry could be kept as narrow as possible.
It was also necessary to find a secure supply system for energy, data, hydraulic and pneumatic cables for the entire gantry. An 18 metre long chain from the E4 series now safely guides the heavy cable weight and ensures fail-safe operation even in continuous operation.
Finally, a particularly flexible energy supply had to be found for the three-dimensional milling head. An e-tube not only fulfils this requirement, but also guides the cable particularly compactly and allows the tight bend radius required in the application.
The commissioning of the AT 520 SBZ machine was immediately followed by trial operation. The machine - which weighs an impressive 29 tonnes due to the high precision required for processing - was then dismantled and reassembled at the customer's premises. At auratronic, this system is regarded as a pilot project. From the user's perspective, the CNC machining system is a real milestone and at the same time a good example of the realisation of Industry 4.0 in a medium-sized metalworking company.