Advanced honing technology In the recent years honing has become a worldwide leading high performance process. There is hardly anyone in the entire metal working industry who wants to go without the performance advantage we offer. Honing is a precision stock removal process for practically all materials.
The goals of honing are:
• to reach diameter tolerances in the range of μm
• to improve the accuracy of form and position tolerances
• optimize the tribological characteristics
Due to the increasing demand for friction-optimized sliding surfaces, the demands on the honing process increases. We as Gehring confront these challenges every day. We are confident to have developed the right solutions for our customers and their future needs! We are the only company worldwide that can offer honing technology for all applications from one source.
Small bore diameters often place different demands on the production technology as large ones. Problems such as a less favorable length/diameter ratio of the bore and less available space have to be
solved. Due to the customer requirements we have continuously improved our lifehone machine. Market-proven functional modules have been included in a modular design - the result: a cost-efficient machine, short delivery times and functionally advanced components. Whether constructed as a multi-spindle transfer solution for mass production, or as single-spindle design for small batches - highly accurate parts with honing diameters up to 90 mm can be processed optimally with the appropriate machine. Characterized by ease of use and high performance, you will find the right solution for your requirements and process conditions.
Your benefits:
• High accuracy and precision
• High efficiency of the lifehone spindles
• Easy operation thanks to the program assistant
• Exclusive design combined with innovative technology
• Configuration module for individual variants
• Optimal configuration through standardized assemblies
• Stroke drive available with linear motor or ball screw
• Expert knowledge for the optimum process and machine design
• Complete system from one source (machine, fixture, tools, abrasives)
Easy operation and optimal configuration options
We select the appropriate spindle unit based on workpiece design and the required speed dynamics. The Gehring honing control allows for precision controlled stroke speeds and reversal precisions. For the stroke drive you can choose between a ball screw or a linear motor.
The user-friendly and clear graphic interface of the Gehring operator panel (GOP) as well as the program assistant eases machine operation significantly. After entering a few relevant parameters about the component, material and tool, the process and stock removal can be defined, and honing can be started once the tool has been positioned. The stroke position and all other relevant parameters for machining the component are automatically calculated.
The bore diameter and the conicity will determined by a pneumatic gauging system and graphically shown on the display of the honing control. Depending on customers request, in-process as well as pre and post gauging systems can be installed.
It is possible to integrate a brushing process to deburr slight burrs at the edges of holes or cross holes produced by honing. An option is also available for the integrated cleaning of the workpiece by centrifugal application or air blowoff station.
A complete package for perfect results
The super finishing of high-precision components depends on the perfect coordination of all influencing factors to the honing process such as the honing tool, abrasives, fixtures, feeding and gauging systems. All of these elements must be perfectly matched to one another to achieve an optimal result. We supply you with the complete package from the abrasives to the machine, so that you always receive the perfect solution for your application.
The newly developed single-stone L series tooling system is especially designed for honing high-precision bores with a diameter range of 3–15 mm. The tool joint and base are assembled by means of “thermal shrinkage”. This joint features high concentric accuracy (≤ 5 μm) as well as the capability to transfer high torque and axial forces. Our tool concept for the lifehone series offers a all new level of accuracy. From a diameter range of 5mm and larger, we can offer you tools with an active honing stone retraction. The benefits are obvious. By eliminating the retraction bushing for abrasives, the tooling design gets shorter and so the stability increases. In addition, the contact of the bore wall during expansion of the tool is avoided, thus increasing the quality.
Besides tools and abrasives, we offer you various automation concepts - Automatic loading or unloading with robot or gantry are possible.