Fibre compound plastics extend the system boundaries for machine-tool components

: Rudolph, U.; Stelzer, C.

Abstract
In machine-tool engineering, the rating limits for some groups of metallic materials have been reached with regard to various components. Non-metallic materials such as fibre compound plastics offer an alternative, since they can be adapted from the design viewpoint to mechanical and thermal strains thanks to the directional behaviour of their materials, apart from their high values of rigidity and strength which are related to weight. Main benefits of structural components from fibre compound plastics in the workpiece clamping system of a lathe are improved dynamic characteristics, a lower load of the spindle-bearing system and an increased safety of operation along with a reduction of masses.