Optimal materials for the manufacture of metal-cutting machines

Abstract

With the goal of improving machine-tool design, attention focuses on the possibility of manufacturing the components of metal-cutting machines from effective new nonmetallic materials that not only meet all the current requirements on such machines but also in most cases improve their performance. The best results are obtained with metal–concrete structures in which the nonmetallic binder consists of modified cement with chemically active additives. Results from materials science are compared with multiyear production tests of metal-cutting machines based on metal–concrete components, which are characterized by stable performance over time. On that basis, an effective new approach is proposed for the modernization of machine tools at the end of their effective working life, without replacing the fundamental structures. The design of the basic structures is analyzed. The production of metal–concrete components in a specialized department of the manufacturing plant is recommended.