Coolant is essential to metal cutting. Typical Flood Coolants deliver relatively low pressures to the cutting zones. Cutting fluids tend to dissipate before reaching the high temperature cutting area. Applying high pressure Coolant through the Spindle and at the cutting surface results in longer tool life, improved surface finish, increased production, and improved chip control.
Modern Machines demand high pressure Coolant delivery for high speed machines. Many machines require various media … Coolant, Air or MQL … during various cutting operations. To accommodate this, either various types of Coolant Unions are required, or special fluid delivery circuitry must be employed to ensure proper sealing and leak free delivery of the various media through the cutting tool and discharge at the cutting surface.
Deublin announces the introduction of a “Patent Pending” technology called the “AutoSense” technology. These special unions employ a proprietary seal design which senses the media and acts accordingly. In the presence of pressurized Coolant, the seals operate like a conventional mechanical seal transferring the coolant leak free to the rotating spindle. In the presence of pressurized Air or MQL, the seals operate with a microscopic gap. The mode of operation is called “controlled leakage”. The leakage is of no consequence since it is minute and it is Air. This controlled leakage, however, prevents gross contact between the two rubbing seals, thereby, extending service life. In the absence of any pressurized media, the seals “pop-off” allowing indefinite dry run.
The “AutoSense” Rotating Unions provide an answer to the flexibility required today for seamless integration of multi-media through the high speed rotating Spindle of CNC Machining Centers. The “AutoSense” unions can deliver Coolant, MQL and compressed Air by sensing the type of media and automatically adjusting the correct position of the seal.
The AutoSense” Rotating Unions are available either in rotor or bore mounted design. In addition to the “AutoSense” technology for automatic change of the position of the seal faces depending on the media, these Coolant Unions feature optimized flow which prevents deposit of metal chips and dirt, bearing protection by a slinger assembly and highly wear resistant silicon carbide seals for long service life under demanding conditions. Depending on the series and design, these Rotating Unions may be used for speeds up to 60,000 rpm, flows of up to 82 l/min and maximum pressure of 140 bar with Coolant and 10 bar with MQL and/or Air.
For more information on these innovative products, please contact Deublin at www.deublin.com
.: Design World :.
Filed Under: Bearings, Machine tools + subtractive manufacturing, FLUID POWER