Vertical Honing System for Increased Process Control

Sunnen’s SV-3000 series vertical honing system features a Beckhoff-based industrial control with Sunnen2 software, designed to include EtherCAT industrial communication for fast response time and increased process control.

The machine’s control system includes a large touchscreen and capacity to program custom part load/unload operations, which the company says eliminates the need for a second control for automation. Through the touchscreen, it is said operators can make simple, intuitive adjustments of spindle speed, stroke rate and tool feed during the honing cycle. Tool selection, setup mode, handling, expansion/retraction of tools and more are all adjusted via the touchscreen. A handwheel may also be used for stroke adjustment. 

The SV-3000 series incorporates synchronized servo stroke and spindle motors that enable constant crosshatch finishes the length of the bore. This is said to eliminate the “flattening” of the crosshatch angle at stroke-reversal points, which is important in many cylinder wall applications where optimal piston ring sealing and performance is required. The drive technology also includes a load-sensing feed system that produces 0.00025 mm (0.000010") tolerances on a wide range of small-diameter parts.

The latest ergonomic and safety features have also been incorporated. Guarding is designed to provide access to critical areas for machine maintenance, while a rear-mounted electrical enclosure and removable side panels enable improved access to the spindle and column from all sides. A centrally mounted operator station can be easily positioned to suit the operator’s preference and/or shop-floor space, the company says.

The company says the system uses OPC which is a widely accepted industrial communication standard that enables the exchange of data between multivendor devices and control applications without any proprietary restrictions, enabling real-time remote process monitoring.