Service from programming through to component

Until a few years ago, Schabmüller produced cylinder head covers for the VW 3.0-litre V-group engine in quantities of up to 320,000 a year. The components, for which Schabmüller also handles installation, are still produced, but the volume has already decreased. However, other major orders have arrived, making the company less dependent on the combustion engine.

“The production of suspension parts has begun since then. This gives us the opportunity to diversify ourselves in this direction”, says managing director Helmut Häckl. “Our business has developed and pursued precisely this goal.” However, the new components pose challenges for Schabmüller, too.
 

Beim Einstieg in die Produktion von Fahrwerksteilen hat Schabmüller ganz neue Erfahrungen gesammelt. Vor allem bei Komponenten für Elektrofahrzeuge werden Projekte teilweise verschoben, ursprünglich geplante Stückzahlen nicht erreicht, oder es gibt noch kurzfristige Änderungen vor Anlauf der Serienfertigung. Helmut Häckl kennt die Hintergründe: „Die OEMs sammeln bis zum Schluss Erfahrungen in Belastungstests für die immer schwerer werdenden Fahrzeuge durch die Batteriegewichte. Das führt dazu, dass bestimmte Bauteile stabiler ausgelegt werden, um jede Grenzsituation abdecken zu können.“ Beispielhaft verdeutlicht Stephan Streck, Technischer Berater bei MAPAL, dies anhand eines Radträgers. Weil im Fahrbetrieb Probleme mit der Steifigkeit aufgetaucht seien, kamen hier quasi in letzter Minute eine weitere zu bearbeitende Fläche und eine Versteifungsrippe hinzu.

Schabmüller muss die Anlagen und Preise für die Bauteile bereits planen, noch bevor feststeht, wie diese im Detail aussehen, was den Hersteller immer wieder vor Herausforderungen stellt. „Um einen Auftrag zu bekommen, ist die Taktzeit der entscheidende Faktor“, so Helmut Häckl.
 

Um solche kurzfristigen Änderungen besser in den Griff zu bekommen und die gesamte Produktion weiter zu optimieren, hat Schabmüller sich dazu entschlossen, MAPAL gleich bei der CAD/CAM-Programmierung mit ins Boot zu holen. „Wir pflegen mit MAPAL eine sehr kooperative Zusammenarbeit und schätzen die schnellen Reaktionszeiten“, erklärt Häckl. „Wir hatten daher ein gutes Gefühl dabei, die Kooperation auf die CNC-Programmierung und die Simulation zu erweitern.“ MAPAL ist bislang schon an der Werkzeugauslegung für neue Projekte beteiligt und verantwortet das Toolmanagement. Diese Dienstleistungen sind maßgeschneidert auf die Bedürfnisse des Kunden. Dazu gehörten bisher schon die Disposition der Werkzeuge, ihre Voreinstellung, Ausgabe und Wiederaufbereitung, technischer Support der Serienfertigung, Werkzeug- und Taktzeit- sowie Standzeitoptimierungen.

Bereits seit 2018 programmiert Schabmüller nicht mehr selbst. „Für CAD/CAM brauchen wir Spezialisten, die dieses Thema beherrschen“, sagt dazu Häckl. „Wenn wir pro Jahr nur zwei bis vier neue Projekte angehen, kann ein Mitarbeiter hier nicht fit sein.“ Zwischenzeitlich nutzte Schabmüller für die Programmierung teilweise Dienstleistungen des Maschinenherstellers. Allerdings bestand keine Möglichkeit für 3D-Simulationen, weshalb dem Fertiger bewusst war, dass nicht alle Möglichkeiten genutzt wurden, um Taktzeiten zu optimieren.
 

Now that ­MAPAL is involved from the beginning, this has changed. NC programming, simulation and tool management are now perfectly intertwined. For instance, simulation data is included in tool planning, which helps detect potential collisions at an early stage. It is possible to respond immediately to component changes by the OEMs before the start of production. Modifications are made in the 3D simulations before the tools are finished. Streck explains the importance of simulation: “If you don’t catch adverse changes in good time, costs can run into the five figures.”

Simulation also plays a key role in optimising machining. For instance, it shows approach angles that can be used to improve material removal. Data from the computer can also be used to reduce tool wrapping. “This type of detail is much easier to detect in simulations than looking through the window into the machine”, says Streck.
 

The suspension parts involve a shift in starting material from die cast aluminium to forged aluminium. Forged parts have much higher load indicators than cast parts. The higher stability is required in particular for electromobility. However, this also increases machining requirements to achieve the desired cycle time. Material removal and thus the volume to be machined are much higher here, which requires adapted milling strategies.

The material properties have also changed, as Stephan Streck explains: “Compared to aluminium cast parts, the forged material has a much lower silicon content. This means that the chip doesn’t break well, long chips are produced in machining, and we need to deal with smeared blades. All of ­MAPAL’s aluminium machining expertise is required to find solutions here.” Schabmüller currently uses forged aluminium to produce some of the hub carriers, steering knuckles and control arms made in Großmehring.
 

Another aspect of improving processes is ­MAPAL bringing new tools on board as soon as they are available and promise benefits. As application engineer Eugen Bien notes, the new indexable insert milling cutter NeoMill-Alu-QBig was used at Schabmüller before it even officially came on the market.

This new indexable insert milling cutter from ­MAPAL stands out for its top performance in high-volume aluminium milling. It is designed for use at speeds up to 35,000 min-1 to achieve the maximum possible material removal rate. For a tight fit despite high centrifugal forces, screws with increased tensile strength are used to hold the indexable inserts firmly in the prismatic seat. ­MAPAL has fitted the tool body with a fine balancing system to protect the machine spindle and achieve high surface finishes where possible. In addition, focus was placed during development on low cutting forces and highly precise indexable inserts.

From the three coatings available, ­MAPAL technicians chose a diamond coating for the machining of mould casting at Schabmüller. During operation, the machine operator rotates the indexable inserts with their two cutting edges directly on the machine. ­MAPAL retips the milling cutter in the setting room. One benefit of the ductile solid carbide inserts of the NeoMill-Alu-QBig in comparison to the milling cutters with brazed PCD blades used before: They break out less quickly when there are sand residues from the casting mould on the raw part.
 

However, there is another aspect that is decisive for the user, as Häckl affirms: “In production, we achieved shorter cycle times with the NeoMill-Alu-QBig, as we were able to attain greater values for cutting speed and feed. For this, we were readily willing to accept shorter tool lifes.”

Switching to the NeoMill-Alu-QBig required a different milling strategy and higher central chip thickness. The values measured by ­MAPAL are testament to the success achieved as a result. The adjustments implemented with higher cutting parameters, the switch from circular milling to helix milling, and the improved machining conditions resulted in a cycle time saving for this machining operation of 54%. The new tool made it possible to increase the feed per tooth from an average of 0,14 mm to 0,32 mm.

In the comprehensive tool set for machining a hub carrier, the NeoMill-Alu-QBig is one of the few standard tools, but it plays a crucial role for the cycle time, as Eugen Bien puts it: “Use of the NeoMill-Alu-QBig constitutes around 30% of the total machining time.” The focus is on the roughing of the component, but the tool also produces surfaces in finished part quality.