V-Line (Vertical balancing machine for disk-shaped rotors)

Overview

V-Line (Vertical balancing machine for disk-shaped rotors) is a modular vertical unbalance measuring and balancing machine from Hofmann. Rotors are clamped backlash-free over an internal diameter to ensure maximum measuring accuracy. Displacement and force-measuring versions are possible. Available variants include 1-station, 2-station and 4-station machines; the 1-station machine has a cycle time of approx. 60 seconds, the 2-station approx. 30 seconds and the 4-station approx. 15 seconds. The machines feature a compact, robust design and allow a free choice of installation surface for a distance- or path-measuring parallel oscillator, so no special foundation is required, and machines can be retrofitted on site. The control system is designed according to current Siemens TIA specifications and an automatic calibration system with TQC add-on software and an SQL database is available. Options include robot loading, a lowerable spindle to protect the measuring spindle against axial forces/impacts during loading, bleed detection, hole pattern detection and DMC detection. Various compensation processes such as drilling, milling, welding, punching, rivet setting and both mass removal and mass addition can be combined in one machine. Hofmann supplies standardized assemblies and spare and wear parts from its warehouse and maintains complete in-house design access to spare parts. The V-Line is used to balance a wide variety of disk-shaped rotors explicitly listed in the product information, including brake discs, brake drums, turbines, gear parts, electric armatures, automotive transmissions, torque converters, flanges, flexplates, clutches, pulleys and flywheels. It supports manual unbalance measurement as well as balancing with manual or fully automatic unbalance correction. In series and in-line production the 2-station and 4-station variants are described as ideally suited for "in-line" use with in-machine round transfer and rotors usually fed and discharged via a conveyor belt, delivering approx. 30 seconds and approx. 15 seconds cycle times respectively. The 1-station machine is presented for fast, flexible balancing in approx. 60 seconds and can be modularly expanded with optional robot loading and the automatic calibration system for production use. Compensation processes such as drilling, milling, welding, punching, rivet setting and mass removal or mass addition can be combined in the machine for unbalance correction.