Details

March 2019

Another new machining centre will increase precision on mould boxes

In January a new 5-axial machining centre arrived at our factory, and it has now been joined by another brand-new machining centre.

With a large machining level (1200 x 508 x 635 mm), which simultaneously can handle up to 1,600 kgs, the machine is ideal for machining larger mould sheets.

"This machine can handle significantly larger samples than our other precision machines. It means that we are not so constrained by exterior dimensions and that we can handle even larger tools with even more cavities," explains Hjerno’s Managing Director, Aage Agergaard.

High precision on mould boxes
In addition, this is a machine with a super precision down to 8 microns - a high precision for this type of machining centres. That opens up for very accurate machining of non-hardened tool parts and mould boxes.

Mould boxes were previously traditionally produced with larger tolerances than the more accurate inserts, which are being fitted into them.

“However, it is not very useful with a super-precise insert in a mould box with larger tolerances,” explains Aage Agergaard.

"And even if a guide is mounted in both the inserts and between the mould sheets, it may cause a form displacement, provide internal tensions in the entire tool and thus subsequently more wear. Therefore the result is much better with a mould box that in machining quality lives up to the very high precision of the insert," says Aage Agergaard.

Longer tool life
According to Aage Agergaard, higher precision on the mould boxes results in longer tool life, perfect samples and shorter overall tool production times in Hjerno’s production.

"High precision is important, because we constantly receive orders in the technically demanding end of the scale. Our customers put increasingly tougher demands on us, and thus the demand for very high precision on all parts of the tool increases - and not just on the cavities."