Fluorescent tubes shed light on machining

When Cincinnati wanted to upgrade the lighting specification of its UK-built CFV and FTV vertical machining centres it chose powerful RL fluorescent tube lights from Waldmann Lighting.

When Cincinnati wanted to upgrade the lighting specification of its UK-built CFV and FTV vertical machining centres it chose powerful RL fluorescent tube lights from Waldmann Lighting.

As Cincinnati's Electrical Design Manager Martyn Robinson explains: "We reviewed our specification and decided that we wanted to upgrade our current machine tool lights".

"We knew of Waldmann Lighting's reputation, and that they supplied many of the world's other leading machine tool manufacturers, so we approached them for their suggestions".

"They were able to offer a fluorescent lamp in a borosilicate glass tube that gave us a number of advantages over our previous lights that had an acrylic housing".

Although acrylic can be an ideal solution in for many applications - and indeed Waldmann can supply its tube lights in high quality 5mm thick acrylic housings - it does tend to scratch if hit by flying chips.

In these cases Waldmann recommends that the lights are housed in borosilicate glass tubes.

Waldmann's RL fluorescent tube lights offer a greatly enhanced service life because of their ability to withstand the harsh environment of coolant splashes and chip impacts in the machining zone.

As well as using robust borosilicate glass tubes they are sealed using special twist-off end caps that are easy to open, yet provide protection against moisture and dust ingress to IP67.

As Rodger Henderson of Waldmann Lighting explains: "All machine tools have to meet the obligations of the European Machinery Directive by providing appropriate lighting exactly where it is needed for safe and error-free setup and operation".

"Waldmann Lighting has 4000 different variants of tube lighting available and can tailor the lighting system to provide exactly the right illumination for a specific machine tool with an off-the-shelf product - in Cincinnati's case this actually meant that it could use a less powerful light and avoid unnecessary heat".

Waldmann lights are now being fitted as standard original equipment on all new CFV and FTV machining centres and retrofit kits are also offered to upgrade machines that are already in the field if their lights break or wear out.

"We have been very happy with the quality of the lights and the service offered by Waldmann Lighting and are always glad to find ways to make our products even better", says Robinson.

Back to top