Zimentek presents project on laying foundations for machine-tools

INVEMA, the technological unit at AFM (the Association of Spanish Machine-Tool Manufacturers), has presented the pre-dimensioning tool for laying foundations for machines, within the remit of the Zimentek project.
The demands of an increasingly more exigent market which requires large-scale machines with high performances in machining precision are not easy to meet if the rigidity of the foundations is not taken into account as a structural part of the machine. This, together with the absence of standardised methodologies to enable facilitating the client with technically proven foundation recommendations, instigated INVEMA to start drawing up the Zimentek project two years ago.
In large machines the bedplate is an element with high intrinsic flexibility that often results in unwanted deformations when there is not a suitable foundation laid. Moreover, the use of large-scale machines normally involves the machining of heavy parts and involves the presence of large-size mobile elements which, given situations of acceleration and de-acceleration, result in great forces being borne by the bedplate-foundation-floor assembly, thus leading to unacceptable levels of deformation.
In this sense, the main objective of the project was to help machine-tool manufacturers to suitably define and dimension the machines to be delivered to their customers, thus contributing to saving costs, while not reducing the rigidity of the machine or losing performance. In this way the robustness of large machines is guaranteed, reducing costs of installation and guaranteeing the suitable levelling of the machine.
A working team made up of representatives of the Etxe-tar, Ibarmia, Juaristi, Fagor Arrasate, MTorres, Nicolás Correa, Soraluce and Zayer enterprises were commissioned to define the requirements and specifications and to validate the progress of the project. Moreover, INVEMA has had the collaboration of the Tekniker technological centre, which has developed the computer tool to help carry out the pre-dimensioning of the foundations.
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