What were the key considerations when the machine was used to produce the first component, given that this item was the centrepiece that connects an oxygen tank to a respirator mask?

Sudki: The initial material is a forging blank made from a special aluminium alloy that contains silicon. Due to its shape, size and the type of machining, this forging blank cannot be fed conventionally to the main spindle. For this reason, we recommended that the customer used a palletising system with ten pallets that would allow a total of 300 parts to be stored. After loading, the machine automatically feeds the unmachined parts to the main station. The palletising system transports a pallet into the machining area. The unmachined part is moved from the pallet into the clamping system of the main spindle by a specialised gripping tool in the milling spindle. This gripping tool is operated in the same way as a standard milling tool: It is actuated pneumatically and loaded as a milling tool in the tool magazine.

No doubt the clamping system plays an important role in relation to the shape of the respiratory protection component.

Sudki: Yes. We have developed and introduced a specific pneumatic clamping system for this component and this machine. The system simultaneously fulfils several functions: It clamps the component during machining whilst also providing enough space for the cutting tools. The pneumatic gripper also enables automatic yet precise feeding of the unmachined parts, as well as safe access to the re-clamping system. The process of transferring the components from machining station 1 to machining station 2 also runs automatically.