Electric spindle technology integrates the spindle motor and the machine spindle in the field of computer numerical controlled machine tools. Together with high-speed motorized spindles and linear motor technology, it raises high-speed machining to another level. The electric spindle comprises an electric spindle and its accessories: electric spindle, oil mist lubricator, high-frequency inverter, cooling device, tool changer, built-in encoder, etc.
With the rapid improvement and growth of electric drive technology (motor vector control technology, frequency control technology, etc.), the structure of the high-speed CNC machine tool’s main drive system is greatly simplified, eliminating the gear transmission and belt drive.
The spindle is driven directly by the built-in motor, which shortens the machine tool’s main drive chain length to zero.
There are several benefits of using high-speed machining when dealing with plastics and nonferrous metals. However, consider the challenges of available technology, micro-tooling, feeds, and speeds. Micro-tooling involves drills and mills with a diameter of at most 0.250 inches. It is needed for detailed and complex machining and works best with high-speed motorized spindles.
What are the advantages of using high-speed spindles?
Here are some benefits of high-speed motorized spindles:
- Small transmission error: The machine tool’s main drive chain length is zero, the motor drives the spindle with no transmission error, the spindle vibration reduces, and the workpiece surface finish improves.
- Small spindle deformation: The motor’s rotor is a rare earth structure of permanent magnet, which ensure no excitation current, good spindle axial stability, minimal rotor heat generation, and high-precision of workpiece machining.
- Wide application: Due to the low-speed characteristics increase, the product has a substantially enhanced range of working speeds and can be serialized. Moreover, you can not only equip a piece of new equipment but retrofit old grinders.
- The workpiece surface finish is greatly enhanced: The motor’s rotational speed is excellent, and in addition to hard characteristics and high rotational stability, it significantly improves the workpiece surface.
- High productivity: The motor has exceptional low-speed hard characteristics for rigid tapping. Regarding tool hardness and bearing rigidity, you can use it for low-speed large-scale cutting, hard metal, high-speed snack knife precision cutting, and greatly improved production efficiency.
- Rear direct drive structure design and flexible power configuration: The motor is at the rear end of the spindle, and the motor’s power can be matched with the length and thickness of the spindle. Thus, it is extremely flexible, and you can use it in various radial space limitation applications.
- Large power and torque: The motor is a rare earth permanent magnet synchronous motor with extremely high power and torque density. The power and torque of the motor can be one level higher compared with asynchronous motors, under the same volume — that is, at the same power, since the rotor does not require excitation power, its torque is significantly large.
- Wide speed range is wide: The motor can achieve a wide range of speed regulation, and you can realize step-less speed regulation between zero speed and maximum speed; the continuous motor power ratio is 1:1.25.
- Saves energy: Under similar power conditions, you can save 20% to 50% more power than in an asynchronous spindle motor. The more the power, the greater the energy-saving effect.
Are you looking for a place to buy or repair your machine tool spindles? At Fischer Precision Spindles, Inc., we repair and sell machine tool spindles. Our suppliers include Heinz, SPL, Elte, and more. Our industry relations enable us to provide a range of products for several kinds of spindles. Call (860) 828-0595 or email us for more information.