30.05.2023

Precisely fitting solutions for hydraulic valve housings

Customised machining solutions for individual manufacturing situations

The production of hydraulic valve housings is the supreme discipline in the world of fluid power technology. As a technology partner, MAPAL supports the customer in the complete process design. The experts pay particular attention to the cost drivers that are often found in the functionally relevant bores. Based on the respective honing process, the component requirements and batch sizes, MAPAL designs the optimum machining strategy in dialogue with the customer.

Based on the applications already implemented for existing customers, MAPAL has developed specific solutions for hydraulic valve housings. They reflect many customer and component requirements. For MAPAL’s expertise in machining the spool bore has been in demand for years. The gap dimension with the spool depends on the accuracy of this bore, so that the hydraulic oil can only flow in the required direction without leaking. This is very narrowly defined in modern hydraulic valves. The roundness, cylindrical form, straightness and surface quality of this bore are therefore crucial.


Clear best practice examples each deal with specific production situations. MAPAL designs the tools for these in a way that always results in the most cost-efficient process. That includes swiftly completing pre-machining and semi-finishing– all while keeping an eye on subsequent processes further down the line, such as honing.

The production of hydraulic valve housings is the supreme discipline in the world of fluid technology. Great attention is paid to the quality of the main bore.   ©MAPAL

あらゆる状況に対応するアプリケーションソリューション

油圧バルブハウジングの加工について第1にご紹介するソリューションは、仕上げ用のファインボーリング工具が含まれていないため、マパールではかなり珍しいものです。パイロット加工、ボーリング加工、スプール穴の円形フライス加工の後、マルチブレードリーマがホーニング加工の前の最終加工を行います。調整機能付きの特別な工具を使わずに、工具の選択によって高精度な製造が可能であることをマパールは実証しています。このコンセプトは、特に少量および中量の加工に適しています。

大量生産で高い精度を求める場合は、第2にご紹介するアプリケーション・ソリューションが適切な構想となります。大きな違いは、精密加工に使用されるファインボーリング工具です。スプール穴とコンペンセータボア穴の製造においてレベルの高い精度基準を満たします。EasyAdjust-Systemとガイドパッドは、簡単な操作で信頼性の高い精密加工を提供します。お客様の技術パートナーとしてマパールは、最終仕上げホーニング加工をどの程度まで縮小できるのか、あるいは省略できるのかを明確にしていきます。

Machining solution for the series production of valve housings in large quantities. The fine boring tool with EasyAdjust-System and guide pads offers reliable fine machining with easy handling.   バルブハウジングを大量に連続生産するための加工ソリューション。EasyAdjust-Systemとガイドパッドを備えたファインボーリングツールは、簡単な操作で信頼性の高い微細加工を提供します。©MAPAL
If the part needs to be machined on two sides due to its tolerances, the third solution comes into play. For piloting and boring, MAPAL uses a multi-staged boring tool with radial and tangential indexable inserts. It handles pre-machining of the spool bore and completion of contours in one go. A solid carbide profiling tool processes control edges in a defined way and without flaws. The following fine boring tool with adjustable indexable inserts and guide pads eliminates the axial offset caused by machining from two sides. This could not be achieved to this level of quality with a multi-bladed reamer.
If machining must be done from two sides due to valve housing tolerances, MAPAL recommends a three-stage process for the spool bore.   ©MAPAL
Application solution 4 introduces into fluid power technology the kind of flexibility that is primarily required for small series and prototype building. The mechatronic tool system TOOLTRONIC makes it possible to perform the honing process via an additional axle on the machining centre. This allows all machining to take place in a clamping setup on one machine. Machining with TOOLTRONIC achieves high surface quality and dimensional accuracy with the tightest manufacturing tolerances and high flexibility. Burr-free, rounded transitions are created and there are no errors due to converting to the honing machine. For small quantities, a classic single-blade reamer from the standard range can be used for bore machining instead of a custom tool. In this instance, rapid availability and lower tool costs compensate for the slightly longer machining time.

Kathrin Rehor, PR Project Manager at MAPAL

Contact

Kathrin Rehor Public Relations Kathrin.Rehor@mapal.com Phone: +49 7361 585 3342