NSK replaces spindle bearings on large surface wheel lathe

The Doppelmayr Graventa Group in Wolfurt, Austria, a specialist in the manufacture of surface and aerial ropeways, has benefited from the expertise of NSK in replacing the main spindle roller bearings on an extremely large surface wheel lathe.

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Ropeways as a means of transport are highly suited to urban areas as well as ski resorts. Doppelmayr is the world leader for this application.

Due to the lathe´s age and the obsolescence of the spindle assembly, the project entailed a significant amount of reverse engineering, supported by the team at NSK, before double row cylindrical roller bearings were specified for the central bearing positions.

Due to the global rise in demand for ropeways, which are seen as an economic and rapid alternative to conventional ground transport in both inaccessible and highly urban landscapes, business at the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group has seen the manufacture of more than 14,600 ropeway systems for customers in 89 countries to date. The company makes all of the required components for its ropeways in-house, including the large sheaves at the top and bottom stations which guide the main drive cable. The bearing surface of the sheaves must be manufactured with very high precision to ensure smooth operation and secure cable guidance.

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View of a sheave: Manufacturing requires the highest precision

The sheaves are machined on a large surface wheel lathe that was rebuilt from an original longitudinal lathe produced many years ago by Zerbt. Although the machine, which has a face plate weighing 30 tonnes, gives good service, Doppelmayr faced a challenge when wear and tear dictated that the main spindle’s roller bearings required replacement.

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Doppelmayr/Garaventa is the world market leader for cable cars

The principal problem in replacing the bearings related to the machine´s age and the fact that the original manufacturer had changed ownership. This meant there was no documentation relating to the main spindle assembly. For this reason, Doppelmayr turned to NSK, which was able to support the company in a reverse engineering project that would help identify the bearing locations and assembly parameters, including the bearing clearance and spacer ring width. NSK also helped develop strategies for replacing the bearings.

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Experts from NSK supporting Doppelmayer’s maintenance personnel with the replacement of the main spindle bearing.

By characterising the installed bearings through reverse engineering, NSK was able to replace them in the central bearing positions with high precision double row cylindrical roller bearings in the correct sizes. The replacement took place during a planned maintenance period so that production schedules were unaffected. For the axial bearings, spacer rings were measured after setting the clearance and new ones manufactured in the required width.

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Handling heavy loads with precision

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Cylindrical roller bearings used as high precision bearings for the spindle.

Post-installation, NSK technicians checked the clearance to make sure it was correct. This was facilitated by conducting a dynamic lift test, allowing the loading conditions to be simulated with the bearings installed. The process confirmed that the previously measured value of 0.005 mm had been successfully maintained.

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The bearings in installed state

With the project complete and the surface wheel lathe ready to recommence operations, Doppelmayer’s maintenance team was given instructions by NSK to monitor the temperature of the bearings during the initial start-up phase. No irregularities were observed and the lathe is now back in full sheave production.

About NSK

Established 100 years ago, NSK (Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha) is a Japanese-listed company that has evolved from a regional ball bearing supplier to a roller bearing specialist and automotive supplier with a global market presence. Today, NSK employs more than 31,000 employees in 30 countries. As per March 2015 NSK achieved a turnover of 975 billion Yen. This result has been driven by ever-increasing investment in research & development, enabling the company to continuously improve the quality of its products and services. This investment supports NSK´s objective of »No. 1 in Total Quality». In addition to a complete rolling bearing portfolio, NSK develops and manufactures precision components and mechatronic products, as well as systems and components for the automotive industry, including wheel bearing units and electric power-steering systems.
In 1963, NSK´s first European subsidiary, Düsseldorf, Germany, was opened and in 1976, the first European production facility in Peterlee, England. Today, NSK Europe supports pan-European sales with production locations in England, Poland and Germany, logistics centres in the Netherlands, Germany and England and technology centres in Germany, England and Poland. In 1990, NSK purchased the UPI Group including the renowned European bearing manufacturer RHP, with its factory in Newark (UK). Additionally, NSK has developed a comprehensive network of authorised sales distributors. NSK Europe is divided into application-based business divisions: Industry rolling bearing technologies & linear and precision technology (EIBU) as well as bearing modules and steering systems for the automotive industry (EABU & ESBU). In this organisation, NSK Europe’s 3,500 employees achieved a turnover of over 1,000 million Euros as per March 2015.
For more information, visit www.nskeurope.com

NSK UK Ltd.
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Nottinghamshire
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Helena MEASHAM
Phone: +44 1636 605123
Fax: +44 1636 602775
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NSK Deutschland GmbH
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Nathalie SIMON
Phone: +49 2102 481 2152
Fax: +49 2102 481 2151
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