CERBEC CERAMIC BALLS EXHIBITS RESPONSE TO THE CALL FOR INCREASED MACHINE TOOL SPEEDS AT HANOVER

East Granby, CT-September 2001-saint-gobain advanced ceramics manufacturers an extensive size range of genuine CERBEC ceramic balls used in hybrid bearings for industries as diverse as aerospace and sports equipment .while the company has experienced steady business growth In numerous market sectors for its CERBEC ceramic (silicon nitride) balls, the machine tool industry is where demand is most pronounced. Saint-Gobain advanced ceramics will be exhibiting in hall 16,boothB40 at EMO Hannover from 12 to 19 September, 2001.

World wide machine tool builders are being asked to provide shorter cycle times to meet higher productivity and just (JIT) delivery requirements. At the same time, accuracy and repeatability demands have become much more stringent with machining to split-"tenths" and even "millionths" of an inch. as a result, axes speed have gone from a few hundred ipm to well over 1000 ipm, while spindle speeds often exceed 40,000 rpm, all under sophisticated CNC guidance to ensure close tolerances.

To overcome heat, vibration and wear problems that are inherent with such high speeds, many builders have turned to the use of ball screws and spindle bearings incorporating CERBEC ceramic balls ,compared with traditional steel balls, CERBEC ceramic balls are lighter ,harder ,stiffer and smoother ;while being corrosion resistant and experiencing lower thermal expansion.

For ball screws ,this means smooth and over 1 G acceleration capability, while greatly extending ball screw life used in spindle bearings, ceramic balls provide high sped spindles with substantially longer life, lower operating temperatures, reduced vibration levels and up to 30% higher speed vs. bearings with traditional steel balls.

Machine tool ball screws and high speed spindles are receiving substantial benefits from CERBEC ceramic balls.

CERBEC ceramic balls , manufactured under strict quality standards ,meet an extensive range of bearing size requirements