Heidenhain – The global leader in machine tool metrology & control technology
“With unassailable lead in R&D in the field of machine tool metrology and control, Heidenhain continues to develop successful products that define global quality and reliability.” – A.P. Jayanthram, Managing Director, Heidenhain Optics & Electronics India Pvt. Ltd.
Heidenhain, Germany is a world renowned name in measuring technology with a reputation spanning over 120 years. It has over 15 years’ of leadership and competence in Absolute Encoder technology. The company has shipped over 6,00,000 Absolute linear encoders to almost all leading machine tool builders over the past 10 years. The machine building world has recognized that machines without closed loop closed loop feedback systems cannot remain accurate.
Heidenhain manufactures over a million rotary encoders every year which go into machine tools, motor manufacturing, packaging machines, robots, elevators, etc. to name a few.
The other prominent products from the house of Heidenhain are Angle Encoders, Absolute Length Gauges, TNC Controls, Digital Readouts and so on. Its regular range covers some 10,000 products. Heidenhain India (Heidenhain Optics & Electronics India Pvt. Ltd. headquartered in Chennai), supports these outstanding products in terms of training, spares and service. Some of its innovative products deserve special mention:
TNC 640 – The new control for milling and turning applications
Heidenhain’s TNC controls come into Indian manufacturing domain, predominantly through the 67% machine tool import channel.
“Whether it is real 5 axes machining, high speed milling, die mould machining or 3 + 2 axes machining of automotive parts, our TNC controls fitted on machine tools imported mainly from countries like Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Czechoslovakia and Taiwan play a substantial role,” says Mr. A.P. Jayanthram, Managing Director, Heidenhain India. The legendary user-friendliness of TNC controls, the top class graphics, combined turning and milling solutions, features like Dynamic Efficiency for efficient roughing and Dynamic Precision for exact finishing make these products unique.
The new and high end TNC 640 control is best suited for HSC and 5-axis machining on machines with up to 18 axes . It is the first milling-machine control by Heidenhain offered with optional turning functions. With this, the turning operations can be programmed in plaintext, just like the familiar milling operations. Comprehensive turning cycles are available for frequently repeated operations such as roughing, finishing, recessing and thread cutting. The synergy effects of the new NCK become apparent on the TNC 640. The field-proven lathe controls from Heidenhain provided the software basis for the turning functions.
Heidenhain’s futuristic products
TNC 640 comes with all new
features and benefits like: Dynamic Efficiency – meaning more chips in less time, and Dynamic Precision – meaning exact machining in the least amount of time.
Next generation Linear Encoders
The Sealed linear encoders of the LC 1×3 and LC 4×3 series have established themselves very successfully on the market. With the new LC 1×5 and LC 4×5 generation, Heidenhain will complement its current product program. The development of the encoders was focused on the requirements for purely-serial absolute systems. The new interfaces from Fanuc, Siemens and Mitsubishi can be realized on the basis of the LCxx5 series. In addition, the EnDat and Siemens encoders can be used in safety-related axes.
Support of new interfaces, higher resolutions, functional safety for encoders with EnDat 2.2 or DRIVE-CLiQ interface, optimized sealing design (doubled sealing lips on the LC 1×5, etc. are some of the distinct advantages.
Absolute Length Gauge
ACANTO AT 30xx is the latest product in the length gauges product group, developed for multipoint inspection apparatuses. The compact dimensions of ACANTO and its measuring range of 30 mm are the basic characteristics resulting from this requirement. ACANTO provides the benefit of an optical encoder (high accuracy together with high resolution and linearity over the entire measuring length, and temperature stability meeting the requirement for an absolute interface.
New Generation Angle Encoders with EnDat 2.2 Interface
The absolute angle encoders from Heidenhain with integral bearings and hollow shafts have long been setting the standard for angular measurement in the range of a few angular seconds. The angle encoders were improved with new scanning technology, evaluation electronics and changed mechanical design, and are now offered in the RCN 2000 and RCN 8000 series. In addition, a new series RCN 5000 is available with a hollow shaft diameter of 35 mm.
The new scanning method permits a very high signal quality and at the same time even greater resistance to contamination.
The new design of stator couplings feature even better behavior than the previous series in axial and radial deflection and torsional rigidity. Together with the new sealing design of the encoders, relatively large mounting tolerances are now permissible without restricting operating functions and accuracy.
A training session in progress at Heidenhain’s training center in Chennai
Training
Heidenhain India, in its quest to educate the end-user, is conducting regular training programs at its state-of-the-art Training Center at Chennai with a mix of theoretical and practical classes since its inception in 2008. In a year there are six sessions on ‘Measuring Systems’ and even number of sessions on ‘TNC Controls’. The participants are personnel from production, machine operation, service, R&D, application and workshops. A batch consists of 6-8 participants. At the end of the course, certificates are issued.
Heidenhain also conducts in-company programs at customer places. “All machine tool majors and OEMs are our customers – Jyoti, HMT, LMW, TAL, BFW, Micromatic, Kennametal, Premier, Tata Motors, and L&T included”, says Mr. Abhilash Tripathi, General Manager (Sales & Service).
– P.K. Balasubbramaniian
