Removing swarf
November 1st 2006 In the machining of Airbus wing spars there is a significant amount of swarf. The large component machine used, is designed to hold up to 18 of the 'smaller' work pieces and is also used to produce wing spars with a finished length of 10m. Some components start as 3.2t aluminium billets and come off the machine as 250kg components. With this amount of reduction, the machine demands an effective means of removing the swarf. Banks of Airknives powered by a single blower supplied by Air Control Industries (ACI) turned out to be the best solution. Mounted in the throat of the moving gantry that houses the 3 machining heads are 30 Airknives ranging in length from 150 to 1520mm. These Airknives blow the machining debris towards the edges of the work bed into collecting gullies from where it is automatically transported into purpose-designed collection vehicles for transporting away for reprocessing. More articles from Air Control Industries Ltd: | 
