Hydraulic excavators, bulldozers, cranes — construction machinery operates for long hours under heavy loads in harsh environments.
Inside are a great many metal parts that must combine high durability with precision, and CNC automatic lathes are used to machine them.
In This Article
What Construction Machinery Parts Require
Machining parts for construction machinery brings its own particular requirements.
First, high durability.
Construction machinery must withstand heavy loads and long operating hours, so its parts need high strength and wear resistance.
Next, precision and reliability.
Hydraulic-system parts in particular demand high precision, since even slight dimensional errors lead to oil leaks or malfunction.
And then, a wide product mix.
Construction machinery comes in many models with a wide range of parts, so flexible machining capability is required.
A CNC automatic lathe meets these requirements because it combines high-precision machining with the flexibility to handle a wide product mix through program changes.
Which Parts Are Made
Parts for construction machinery where CNC automatic lathes come into their own include hydraulic valves and spools (parts that control the flow of oil), all kinds of shafts and pins, joint fittings, and sensor-related parts.
Hydraulic parts in particular require high dimensional accuracy and surface quality to maintain smooth operation and a tight seal.
Long, slender shafts need their deflection during machining kept under control, and a Swiss-type CNC automatic lathe with a guide bushing has the advantage in securing precision.
Strengths in the Construction Machinery Industry
Construction machinery parts are often made from harder or difficult-to-cut materials to secure strength, so stable machining is a challenge.
Combined with appropriate cutting conditions and technologies such as high-pressure coolant, a CNC automatic lathe can deliver both precision and efficiency in these materials.
Its ability to machine the many different parts required by each model flexibly, simply by switching programs, also suits the production patterns of the construction machinery industry.
The Precision Demanded of Hydraulic Parts
The heart of a construction machine is its hydraulic system.
This mechanism, which generates enormous force through hydraulics to move arms and buckets, depends heavily on the precision of its internal parts.
Hydraulic valves and spools (parts that switch the flow of oil) control that flow precisely through tiny clearances.
If those clearances are not accurate, oil leaks or operation becomes unstable.
These parts therefore require high dimensional accuracy and a smooth surface finish.
CNC automatic lathes — especially Swiss-types, which are strong on slender parts — are well suited to machining these precision hydraulic components.
The "power" and "precise movement" of construction machinery rest on precision parts like these.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Which construction machinery parts are they used for?
A. Parts that demand durability and precision: hydraulic valves and spools, all kinds of shafts and pins, and joint fittings.
Q. Why do hydraulic parts need such high precision?
A. Because in hydraulic parts, even slight dimensional errors translate directly into oil leaks or malfunction.
Maintaining smooth operation and a tight seal requires high dimensional accuracy and surface quality.
Q. Can they handle hard materials?
A. Yes.
With appropriate cutting conditions and high-pressure coolant, stable machining is possible even in the harder and difficult-to-cut materials used to secure strength.
Q. How do they handle a wide product mix?
A. A CNC automatic lathe changes products by switching programs, so it adapts flexibly to the multi-model production of construction machinery, where parts differ from model to model.
Summary
The construction machinery industry demands high durability, precision, and the ability to handle a wide product mix, and CNC automatic lathes play their part in machining hydraulic components, shafts, and more.
For long, slender hydraulic parts in particular, Swiss-type high-precision machining has the advantage.
For other industries, see Industries Using CNC Automatic Lathes.