Research

Excerpt

More and more components in the aviation and automotive industries are being made from materials that are difficult to machine, such as titanium alloys and Inconel. In addition, the manufacturing process for these parts presents a number of challenges, because complex shapes such as blades with three-dimensional profiles require more dynamic movements and more precision from the axes of the milling machine. During the project entitled “New highly dynamic five-axis milling machine with linear motor technology”, the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT) has worked with Lerinc to produce a new milling machine with lightweight, highly dynamic and yet stiff drive components made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic. The machine allows for rapid acceleration from the X, Y and Z axis drives combined with stable dynamic structural behaviour. The advantages that the machine has to offer are the result of a new Z headstock made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic and a newly developed crossbeam in a lightweight material. …