A high-precision worm in ultra-short cycle time: The innovative worm screw power skiving technology, developed by Affolter Technologies SA, is four times faster than worm hobbing.
The Swiss experts redesigned the AF110 and now introduce the brand new Gear Hobbing Machine AF110 plus for maximum worm screw power skiving productivity of manufacturers in the automotive and aircraft industries.
A prototype of the AF110 plus will be showcased at the trade shows AMB in Stuttgart from 13-17 September and Micronora in Besancon/France from 27-30 September. Furthermore, Affolter will present the WSPS technology at IMTS in Chicago from 12-17 Septemberand JIMTOF in Tokyo from 17-22 November.
Affolter Technologies SA the technology and world market leader in micro gear hobbing centers for the watchmaking and micromechanical industries, launches a groundbreaking innovation: Worm Screw Power Skiving (WSPS). “This cutting-edge technology was developed by our engineering experts in an intensive R&D process. Worm Screw Power Skiving allows us to finish a high-precision worm in only 6 seconds. If done by worm hobbing, every piece will take 25 seconds”, explained Managing Director Vincent Affolter. In other words: WSPS makes producers 4 times more efficient.
Many producers in these industries need to manufacture large quantities of high-precision worms. The WSPS technology focuses on small worms with a module of 0.3 to 1.5. “Such worms are used in car seats or trunks, for instance. We see a big demand in the automotive industry, but also in other sectors”, explained Mr. Affolter.
Extremely fast process
The idea behind the new technology: Unlike in worm hobbing, where the hob turns much faster than the workpiece, the Affolter experts inverted the process. “The workpiece turns extremely fast, with 2 new spindles up to 12,000rpm, while the cutter turns much slower. Only highest quality machines like the Affolter AF100 plus and AF110 plus can reach this speed and at the same time provide the necessary stiffness”, stated the Managing Director.
Over the course of recent months, the Affolter engineers redesigned the well-established Gear Line model AF110 to optimize the WSPS process. The result is the brand new Gear Hobbing Machine AF110 plus. Extensive test runs proved very successful, as Vincent Affolter recounted: “We achieved outstanding results processing both steel and brass. The new AF110 plus and the WSPS technology will open completely new opportunities for our customers.”
