From the rough part to the finished Crank Shaft
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Modern crank shaft manufacturing systems differentiate to crankcase or cylinder head systems in the much broader variety of technologies and process steps. Many different machine types and therefore suppliers are required. The high performance of this highly specialized machine tools, leads to a sequential line concept with a partition of the automation in functional segments.
Often only 1 – 2 machine tools are required for an operation, resulting into following operations inside one functional segment. A key feature of crankshaft manufacturing lines is a short cycle time and a large part variety. Based on the different down time characteristics, e.g. tool change or part type change over, the individual segments have to be decoupled with buffers to ensure a maximum of system uptime and with it the highest production volume possible. In addition the systems have to be prepared for future part types, work piece identifying systems and part tracking systems were mandatory long before Industry 4.0 was announced. With a simple information interface between the operations, parallel to the work piece transport, the automation systems ensures the transparency of the complete production process. It visualizes the state of the system and the occupation of the buffers.
The automation specialist has as a main task to be the systems integrator for the various machine tools. Because of the absence of an inter-divisional standard, the challenge is to define the interfaces, mechanical and electrical / software, between the automation and the machines and thus taking over the role of a turnkey supplier. Felsomat has many years of experience in project management and the design of complex systems, as well as the modular automation building blocks are providing an excellent qualification. Modern crankshaft manufacturing systems differentiate to crankcase or cylinder head systems in the much broader variety of technologies and process steps. Many different machine types and therefore suppliers are required. The high performance of these highly specialized machine tools, leads to a sequential line concept with a partition of the automation in functional segments.