NTN Development of “Bearing Technical Calculation System for Machine Tool Spindles”

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Industry first! Drastically shortened design time for main shafts with 24-hour technical calculation support!

NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) has developed the “Bearing Technical Calculation System for Machine Tool Spindles” as part of technical services designed for customers to enable them to quickly and automatically calculate precision rolling bearings used for machine tool spindles with characteristic values such as main shaft rigidity and bearing operating life.

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Machine tool manufacturers and spindle manufacturers specializing in main shafts have been developing a diverse range of products designed to instantly meet the needs of users in recent years. Machine tool spindles are designed taking into account the characteristic values of bearings that are used, and after receiving various information such as usage conditions proposed by customers, bearing manufacturers must calculate the characteristic values of multiple potential designs quickly and in detail before submitting materials to customers.

The newly developed “Bearing Technical Calculation System for Machine Tool Spindles” is capable of technical calculations for 10 different main shaft layouts, such as bearing type, arrangement and preloading methods. All customers need to do is enter data required for calculations, such as bearing type and usage conditions, into a special Excel® file template and send it to NTN by e-mail. Bearing rigidity, operating life and other characteristic values are automatically calculated on NTN’s designated server, and the results are returned quickly and automatically in what is the first system of its type in the industry.

This system reduces the time required for technical calculations from approximately one day using conventional methods* to approximately 10 minutes after sending an e-mail. NTN’s designated server also operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, which means customers are able to conduct technical calculations without any time restrictions. As a result, customers are able to quickly conduct tests for bearings and drastically reduce the time required for designing main shafts, thus contributing to shorter development lead time of machine tools.

The “Bearing Technical Calculation System for Machine Tool Spindles” is on pre-release display at the Machine Tool Exhibition “EMTE-EASTPO 2014” held at the Shanghai New International Expo Center between July 14 and 17, and will be provided to suppliers such as machine tool manufacturers and spindle manufacturers from August. Main shaft layouts that can be calculated will gradually be increased into the future, and services to customers will also be improved further.

*Time required for ordinary technical calculations of bearings for machine tool spindles. Differs depending on details of bearing calculations.
*Excel is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.

Features

Industry first automated response and technical calculation system

1.Quick technical calculations of bearings for main shafts: approximately 10 minutes after sending an e-mail (took at least 1 day using conventional systems)
2.Technical calculations for various layouts: calculations for 10 types of main shaft patterns
3.Calculations conducted on designated server: Automatic response 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
4.Simple input/output data transmissions: uses a practical Excel® file

Application

Calculation of characteristics for machine tool spindle bearings and high-speed tester spindles

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