Product category:
Tooling and tools
News Release from: Norbar Torque Tools
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 05 December 2007
Investment increases torque tool
capacity
A new gear hobbing machine with robotic feeder will help Norbar match demand for increased sales volumes of its Pneutorque pneumatic torque wrenches and Handtorque torque multipliers.
Norbar Torque Tools has invested over GBP 300,000 in a new Gleason-Pfauter CNC gear hobbing machine with robotic feeder in a bid to match demand for increased sales volumes of its Pneutorque pneumatic torque wrenches and Handtorque torque multipliers Although Norbar's existing gear shaping machines have given many years of good service, the production of gears involves a slow process
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 15 Feb 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Torque tester perfect for testing power tools
orbar Torque Tools Ltd introduces Pro-Log, an electronic torque tester and data store that is perfect for in situ testing or calibration of portable power tools, torque wrenches and similar equipment.
New torque multipliers increase torque available
Norbar Torque Tools Ltd introduces two new torque multipliers to its already extensive range, increasing the torque available with a 1" output shaft to 4500Nm.
Setup time is also a concern as this can take up to an hour and a half.
"It was time to move on in terms of production speed, accuracy, consistency and design flexibility", explains Tim Bloor, Design Engineer at Norbar Torque Tools.
The new hobbing machine will produce around 70% of Norbar's gears, for use in the gearboxes in its Pneutorque and Handtorque products.
Further reading
The challenges of ultrasonic tension measurement
Neill Brodey, Managing Director of Norbar, explains some of the challenges that have to be overcome in using ultrasonic tension measurement.
Precisely measure fastener load, tensile strength
Norbar introduces the USM-1 electronic stress meter, designed to measure the actual clamp load produced by tightening a bolt or threaded fastener
Where it would have previously taken 15-20 minutes to cut a set of three gears, Norbar has just completed trials where a single gear can be cut in about 80 seconds.
Setup times have also been slashed and, with experience, could come down to as little as 15 minutes.
In addition to the gear hobbing machine itself, Norbar also decided to invest in an automatic robotic feed magazine, so rather than having a load time of 20-30 seconds, this is now achieved in just 5 seconds.
This means the machine does not need an operator standing there just to feed the machine and is part of an ongoing plan to maximise manning efficiency.
Having a shorter set up time also means that the company does not need to build up large stocks.
Whereas in the past it would have made enough gears to last a month for example, it can now bring this down to a week's worth of stock.
It also gives the company the ability to cut more complex gears than just spur gears, which the gear shaping process is limited to.
With the gear hobbing machine Norbar can add intricate details such as crowning to gears, or a slight helical taper.
"When a gear is heavily loaded, it will twist", Bloor elaborates.
"You can therefore build a negative twist into the gear, so that when it is fully loaded, it will be straight".
"Gear hobbing gives us the flexibility to look at these techniques for future products".
By making this significant investment in CNC machining technology, Norbar has demonstrated once again that it consistently endeavours to manufacture products of the highest quality in the UK, using the latest technology to meet the evolving demands of its customers. Request free introductory details about products from Norbar Torque Tools ...
• Norbar Torque Tools: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
