Product category:
Machinery and Production Equipment
News Release from: Giuliani Division, Igmi SpA | Subject: Machining
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 07 March 2001
Working magnesium with Giuliani machines
Giuliani transfer machines used in automobile processing steering wheel assemblies operate with emulsifiable liquid and are equipped with special aspirators
The automobile is a veritable focus point of innovative technologies: components, new materials, sophisticated mechanical and electronic systems To create these parts and to process innovative materials, cutting-edge technology machine tools are essential
In recent years, Giuliani has developed numerous important applications for the automobile industry.
Out of these, several have been focused on the steering wheel assembly, that, more than others show how the successful Formula One racing technologies, can be adopted on commercial vehicles.
Initially produced by die casting aluminium alloy (specific weight 2.6), steering wheel housings are today made with magnesium alloys (specific weight 1.74).
For the same mechanical characteristics, the latter alloys guarantee a significantly lighter component; given its inflammable nature however, special machining procedures are required.
In response to this requirement and after painstaking testing and research, Giuliani developed a solution based on innovative machining technology, fully according to accident-prevention and work-safety standards.
Giuliani transfer machines used in automobile processing steering wheel assemblies operate with emulsifiable liquid and are equipped with special aspirators for the elimination of gas inside the machine, as well as special sensors for the detection of hydrogen.
The first machines employed for the production of steering wheel housings featured two control systems: an alarm that was set off when the hydrogen level reached 1%; in this situation, the machine shut down operation and the operator was informed by a visual indicator.
A second alarm was set off when the threshold of 2% hydrogen was reached; in this case, the above-described emergency situation included a siren as well.
A third control was then added, consisting in a signal control unit connected to two sensors that detected UV radiation given off by all flame types; a signal delay could also be programmed to prevent alarms generated by short-lived flames.
In the event of an alarm, the emergency procedure is automatically activated: shutdown of smoke exhaust, closure of the air shutter to the exhaust aspirator, machine shutdown, deactivation of spindles and cooling system, activation of the alarm siren.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the transfer machine is especially designed according to the combination of productive capacity and flexibility parameters specified by the customer: for example, one of the applications involves the machining of a series of products from the same family with a cycle time of around 40 seconds per part, granting on flexibility and rapid size changeover.
Other applications perform high production, with machining cycles of less than 10 seconds, while accounting for the dimensional and geometric tolerances of each part: specific statistical tests indeed confirm the respect for the finest dimensional (+0.05 mm- 0) and geometric (concentricity of opposing seats 0.1 mm) tolerance.
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