Eclipse Clamping System Used In Rail Machining

Eclipse Magnetics has supplied a Power Matrix Rail magnetic clamping system to UK switches, crossings and systems manufacturer, Corus Cogifer. The system provides touch-button permanent-magnet clamping for the machining of rails. Compared to the company's previous hydraulic clamping system, the Power Matrix Rail has reduced setup and production times. The Power Matrix Rail addressed several drawbacks of the previous system, including long set-up time, which was addressed by the touch-button clamping functionality.

Average set-up time has been reduced by 60 per cent. On the previous system, clamping was applied at 600mm intervals. With the Power Matrix Rail system, continuous clamping of the entire rail means that feed speeds were able to be increased by 15 per cent without affecting the machining tolerances.

Both head and foot of the rail had to be supported, so machining was only possible on one side of the head at each set-up; the rail had to be moved to the other side of the system and re-clamped for the other side of the head to be machined. The Power Matrix Rail holds the rail at the base and below the head so both sides can be machined in a single set up. As the rail does not need to be moved and re-clamped, and clamping is consistent along the rail, Corus Cogifer found that it no longer had to continually stop machining to check the profiles.

Measuring now only takes place on completion of the rail. The Power Matrix Rail is double sided, allowing two rails to be mounted simultaneously. Swarf and chips can be easily removed from collection plates in the centre of the system. Corus Cogifer has already extended the original system and is now machining rails up to 34m.

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