Too many advantages to ignore

• Ballscrew-maker introduces a cleaner, faster, smarter dry machining process and the results speak for themselves
• Less hazardous waste, cleaner finish, mitigated environmental risks, and more 

Shuton designs and produces high-precision ballscrews used in machine tools, injection moulding, presses and other applications. Ballscrews range in diameter from 16 to 200 mm, pitch from 4 to 80 mm, and shaft length up to 15 metres in a single piece. The company also offers its customers technical support to optimise ballscrew design.

Aware of its production costs and the environment, Shuton analysed measures to reduce the need for oily lubricants in its processes, while still achieving the same final quality in terms of strength (tolerance), surface finish and residual stress.

Shuton improved the threading process, replacing the grinding that requires oily lubricants with a dry machining process, which avoids hazardous waste production. Dry machining is a process carried out with Cubic Boron Nitride tools which have lower cooling requirements. Lubricants and refrigerants like cutting fluids are not necessary in the process; it only requires air to avoid overheating. The final piece is then dry, which drastically cuts the need for chemical cleaning to remove oil from the pieces.

key benefits

• Eliminates cutting-oil consumption, saves on costs
• No lubrication oils means less hazardous waste and contaminated packaging
• Avoids soil contamination risks (spills or leaks) and oil mist problems (waste and clean up)
• Reduces environmental risks related to the storage and handling of hazardous waste
• Better occupational environment, health and safety
• Easier management of hazardous waste and lower related costs (cutting fluids and oily sludge, collection, storage and processing)
• More efficient process leads to productivity gains, which help to recuperate investment costs as well