LiCON at AMB 2022

Machining and Automation Solutions for Tomorrow's Customer Needs

During the pandemic, the world of technology has continued to turn. This also applies to German machine manufacturer LiCON. After two years of corona-related absence at trade fairs, the company presented its new developments in the area of machine tools and automation at the trade show AMB Stuttgart 2022. LiCON's research and development work always focuses on customer requirements. Read below to find out which solutions LiCON presented at AMB this year.

LiFLEX Four-Spindle Machines: Mass Production of Cubically Smaller Workpieces for Maximum Productivity

The LiFLEX IV 244 is designed for mass production of smaller cubic workpieces to achieve the highest possible output in a space- and time-saving manner. The machine configuration is based on the proven LiFLEX modular design, which allows a modular combination of individual machine components. The four motor spindles of the LiFLEX IV 244 are installed in a block set. The advanced design creates identical conditions in terms of rigidity for all four spindles in the machining process. This ensures a reduction in cycle time as well as consistently high machining quality in continuous operation.

LiFLEX GigaLine: Single-Spindle even in XXL Format

The trend towards lightweight construction in the manufacturing of car bodies for modern cars continues. To reduce assembly costs, larger individual components – mainly made of die-cast aluminum – are increasingly being used. The machining of these complex structural workpieces takes place on large, usually 5-axis machining centers. The existing LiFLEX modular system enables a tailor-made configuration for such large giga machining centers both single-spindle and twin-spindle. In order to be able to machine large-cubic workpieces completely in one clamping, the workpiece must be able to be positioned appropriately in the working area. The LiFLEX GigaLine offers machines with a correspondingly large rotation diameter for fixtures in the two rotation axes A and B.

Energy-saving: 40 Percent Less Power Consumption of Machines

The greater the travel distances in the working area of a machine, the more likely linear motors are used in LiFLEX machining centers. Although these offer a considerable advantage in terms of drive speed, they also have a significantly higher power consumption as compared to ball screw drives. With currently rising energy prices, this is clearly reflected in operating costs.

With the most recent expansions in the twin-spindle range at spindle distances of 1 080 mm, 1 200 mm and 1 500 mm, innovations based on ball-thread drives have been developed. These innovations make electricity savings of more than 40 percent possible with less than just three percent output loss.

Another way to save energy costs is the minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) offered by LiCON. At the customer's request, this can be installed instead of a conventional cooling lubricant system. In this way, the usual cooling lubricant pumps with generally high-power consumption can be dispensed with.

Automation: Integrated Manufacturing Solutions for the Multi-Stage Refinement of the Raw Part into the Finished Part

Application-Specific LiCON Workpiece Grippers

The economic compulsion to reduce personnel costs in series production and thus the need for increased use of automated manufacturing solutions is constantly increasing. A key component of many automation solutions is the use of a six-axis flexible robot. Based on the application-specific gripper technology developed by LiCON, workpieces can be transported fully automatically. For maximum precision, LiCON grippers are precisely adapted to the specific fixture, which are also developed and manufactured in-house.

LiCON Stacking Cell for even More Advantages in Capacity

Particularly in the case of smaller cubic workpieces, enormous productivity advantages can be achieved by stocking a higher number of raw parts and buffering finished parts directly at the line. This is possible with the LiCON stacking cell. With the LiCON stacking cell, the production line can run without personnel for several hours. Thus, in addition to other automation solutions from LiCON, it ensures a further increase in the autonomy ratio of the total production time.

In addition to the innovations mentioned above, LiCON also presented its proven i³-Technology for independent spindles of LiFLEX twin-spindle machines as well as digital solutions in the field of preventive maintenance.

LiCON was located at AMB Stuttgart in Hall 10, Stand B75.