New Tool Enables Fast On-Site Repair Of Flanges, Seals And Bearing Fits, Even In Restricted Spaces
Newberg, OR and Duren, Germany - Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc., a strategic provider of comprehensive, on-site machining solutions, announces the Climax FF6100 flange facer, the industry's smallest vertical-profile flange facer developed for re-facing flanges and repairing bearing fits and seals in cramped or restricted areas at the work site. Climax flange facers are increasingly being adopted to efficiently machine wind turbine towers as well as equipment in the shipbuilding, power generation, heavy construction, and service and engineering industries.
Because valves and flanges located in confined areas pose unique repair and maintenance challenges, the compact Climax FF6100 flange facer was designed to fit within a vertical clearance of only 14-1/2 inches (368 mm), making it ideal for use on site in cramped or restricted areas. Unlike heavy, one-piece machines, the FF6100 was developed with a unique modular design, making it much easier to setup and install the machine and be ready to cut in 30 minutes or less. The tool can be configured to suit specific on-site repair needs, and additional components can be added as flange facing needs expand.
"It has often been a challenge to repair critical flanges and valves seals located in hard-to-reach or confined areas because of space constraints and the size of the equipment needed to make repairs," said Climax CEO, Geoff Gilmore, Ph.D., P.E., "By developing this compact and modular FF6100 flange facer, Climax enables its customers to make repairs even in crowded workspaces, and to get the job done safely, quickly and cost-effectively on site so equipment can get back in service faster."
The FF6100 portable flange facer features an extremely powerful and rigid turning arm that can be used for the entire range of 14 to 60 inches (355 to 1524 mm). Its heavy-duty spindle and bearing system, coupled with twin pneumatic motors, provides an exceptionally smooth finish, even at the maximum extended range, and is powerful and precise enough to achieve a flatness tolerance of less than 0.005 inches (0.127 mm). For restricted space machining, a shorter turning arm with a range of 14 to 42 inches (355 to 1066 mm) is available.
Another feature is its unique hub chucking system. Only one universal hub is required to cover the complete ID chucking range. It is easy to align thanks to the single plane chuck with end adjusters, and the spindle is extremely easy to install onto the single level chuck, requiring just four bolts that are permanently affixed within the hollow spindle. Furthermore, the dual motor option has been designed with a unique balanced gearing system to minimize gear shadowing and provide an extremely smooth surface finish.
Using Climax' innovative portable machine tool solutions for on-site repair is increasingly being recognized as a more efficient and cost-effective method for maintaining and repairing equipment because it eliminates the need to disassemble parts and to transport them to and from a machine shop. It also eliminates the expensive and time-consuming recertification procedures required when critical valves and flanges are sent off-site for repair and then re-installed.
The FF6100 flange facer is the newest member of the Climax Portable Machine Tools family of precision machine tools used for on-site repair and maintenance of equipment. Climax services and tools are enabling an increasing number of companies to re-imagine how repairs can be accomplished.
Detailed specifications and operational dimensions of the Climax FF6100 can be downloaded at http://www.cpmt.com/docs/ff/FF6100.pdf
SOURCE: Climax Portable Machine Tools Inc.