A Unique Cable Carrier System Provides Energy for Six Spindles

The gold vector award 2020 has rewarded a six-spindle automatic lathe from Gildemeister Italiana. The company was awarded for a cutting-edge technology using igus’ cable chain system, unique of its kind: in a very limited installation space, eight pre-assembled cable chains ensure safe guiding
of cables and pipes.

High speeds, long travels and compact installation spaces: every two years, igus bestows the vector award, with which fascinating and creative energy chain applications are honoured. This year, 266 entries from 32 countries were received. The gold vector was won by the multi-spindle lathe of Gildemeister Italiana. In a very restricted installation space, a total of eight harnessed energy chains guide cables and hoses reliably and safely.

The application’s requirements

Reduce lead times, set-up times and the effort required for process development and integration, and at the same time, do justice to the increasing degree of complexity involved: the new lathe from Gildemeister Italiana, a subsidiary of DMG Mori, fulfils these requirements.
The heart of the machine is the spindle drum with six spindles for simultaneous machining of several workpieces.
The drum moves the workpieces to the tools quickly and very precisely. It only takes 0.65 seconds for one of the six spindles to travel to the next position. For spindles to return to the starting position after machining has been completed in the six stations, the drum has to turn 300 degrees in reverse. For this, the unit, which weighs over three metric tons, only needs one second.

The cable carrier system feeds all of the six spindles

One of the biggest challenges: a safe energy supply system for all six spindles. The solution: a unique energy supply system that rotates with the drum and enables the linear movements of the spindle drums. A total of 8 igus energy chains, 64 cables and 73 hoses are used in the automatic multi-spindle lathe. Gildemeister Italiana also received 5,000 euros in prize money. Awarded every two years, the prize is given for fascinating and spectacular energy chain applications. The jury consists of representatives from specialist publications, as well as from the areas of industry and research.