ZF Lenksysteme Clamps Tools With Tendoturn Holder

ZF Lenksysteme manufactures highly precise pinions for passenger car steering mechanisms using the Tendoturn hydraulic expansion holder from Schunk. According to Dionys Mueller, NC programming and planning operator in the K Valve business unit at ZF Lenksysteme, the company previously clamped its tools with an oversized spanner wrench. He said: 'Precise tool presetting on the collet chucks is critical every time. 'During the clamping operation, the tool changes its position by a minimal amount - but still too much,' added Mueller.

The ER collet chucks securely clamped the tools but the spanner wrench and excessive force caused problems. Tendoturn, however, reduces rejects, according to the company. At ZF Lenksysteme, a robot loads and unloads the Gildemeister CTX 400 series CNC universal lathe every 30 seconds. Steering pinions are machined from 16 MnCr5 and are then individually checked automatically. Schunk's Tendoturn is used on the machines for turning and drilling. The holder complies with design specification P7 when boring out an M12 diameter without reworking.

Mueller continued: 'Rejects have been drastically reduced by switching over to the hydraulic expansion holder from Schunk. 'In addition, we could increase the feed from 0.08mm to 0.15mm. 'This way, we save around 50 per cent machining time. 'At the same time, we also achieve a much better surface quality and profit from the prolonged service life of our tools,' he said. The pinions produced with Tendoturn are part of a complex steering system that can be found in car designs from a variety of manufacturers. ZF Lenksysteme, situated in Schwaebisch Gmuend, believes that the higher price of the Schunk Tendoturn compared to an ER collet chuck is justified.

Tendoturn VDI 30 and 40 are used in Schwaebisch Gmuend. The hydraulically clamped precision tool holders from the Tendo range ensure maximum vibration dampening. The vibration dampening reduces the possibility of the cutting edge of the tool breaking, thus reducing tooling costs. With Tendoturn hydraulic expansion holders, the tool is clamped with an Allen key.

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