PUBLISHED ONOctober 18, 2018 6:18 AM
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Gear Grinding Machine "ZE16C" |
- Response to increasing demand for electric vehicle and robot applications
- Full-scale market launch with demonstration at JIMTOF 2018
TOKYO, Oct 18, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machine Tool Co., Ltd. (MAT), a Group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) based in Ritto, Shiga Prefecture in Japan, has developed two new gear grinding machines, the "ZE16C" and "ZE26C." The new machines are capable of higher-speed, higher-precision finishing and suited for mass-production. The new models were developed in response to rising demand for high-precision gears used in today's increasingly complex electric vehicles and reduction gears used in robots. By suppressing the gear-tooth shape error measurement to 1micrometer, the transmission units and gear reducer units' (where the gears are used) fuel performance is enhanced and quieter operation is achieved. The new ZE16C and ZE26C gear grinding machines will be on exhibit at the 29th Japan International Machine Tool Fair (JIMTOF 2018), held at Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo International Exhibition Center) on November 1, marking the full-scale market launch of the new models.
The ZE16C and ZE26C offer significantly higher performance than the highly acclaimed, preceding "ZE-B" series models (ZE15B and ZE24B). They can respectively accommodate gears with maximum outer diameters of 160 and 260 mm. In addition to faster and more precise machining, non-cutting time is reduced to roughly half that of the earlier models, enabling greater production capabilities and lower running costs. Furthermore, environmental performance and energy savings can be improved with adoption of the industry's first water-soluble coolant system (optional).
Higher grinding precision and stability are achieved thanks to various structural enhancements: these include a newly developed gantry-type counter column (ZE16C), greater rigidity in the table and grinding wheel heads, and a revamped main spindle structure. Productivity has been improved through reduced non-cutting time and faster grinding wheel head rotation speed. In addition, by expanding the maximum wheel width to 160 mm (from 125 mm on earlier models), frequency of wheel replacement is reduced and simultaneous mounting of standard and polishing grinding wheels becomes possible, enabling response to a variety of in-factory needs.
At JIMTOF, the new ZE16C will be on display and perform a gear grinding demonstration (dry run). A demonstration will also be given of MAT's "DIASCOPE" monitoring system, which uses IoT technology to give visibility of real-time production status.
Today, demand for more precise gear finishing and mass production of precision gears is rising amid the shift to electric vehicles, enhancements in noise and fuel performance, and moves toward low-cost production. In addition, most recently demand is expanding for robot reduction gears as development of versatile robots gather momentum. The new ZE-C series has been launched to respond to this growing trend of gear grinding machines requiring ever-higher speed and precision.
Going forward, MAT-the manufacturer with the No.1 market share for gear grinding machines in Japan-will continue to focus on achieving further improvements in technologies and equipment relating to gear grinding.
About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial firms. For more than 130 years, we have channeled big thinking into solutions that move the world forward - advancing the lives of everyone who shares our planet. We deliver innovative and integrated solutions across a wide range of industries, covering land, sea, sky and even space. MHI Group employs 80,000 people across 400 locations, operating in three business domains: "Power Systems," "Industry & Infrastructure," "Aircraft, Defense & Space." We have a consolidated revenue of around 40 billion U.S. Dollars. We aim to contribute to environmental sustainability while achieving global growth, using our leading-edge technologies. By bringing people and ideas together as one, we continue to pave the way to a future of shared success.
For more information, please visit MHI's website: https://www.mhi.com
For Technology, Trends and Tangents, visit MHI's new online media SPECTRA: https://spectra.mhi.com
Contact:
Corporate Communication Department Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Email: mediacontact_global@mhi.co.jp Tel: +81-(0)3-6716-2168 Fax: +81-(0)3-6716-5860
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