EQUIPMENT TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

Our machines follow a reference plane electronically. Utilizing the strength of the item being machined for support, we are able to minimize the structural strength and weight of our equipment. This eliminates the need for self-supporting rigid portable machines that require considerable time and engineering effort to install.

Circular Machines 1.5m to 9m (5ft to 30ft) diameter (CSLM, LP-CSLM and V-CSLM):

Each of these machines consists of a milling head, mounted in a rigid box fitted with wheels and connected to a central pivot system point mounted on the fabrication being machined. A ground datum ring is mounted concentrically to the central pivot and set parallel to the desired machining plane by a variety of means, but typically by a clocking arm mounted on the central pivot.

A control circuit utilizes electronic followers that are mounted on the machine structure to register on the datum ring and control the wheel height such that the rigid box with milling cutter rotates parallel to the datum ring. The wheels will thus rise and fall to compensate for irregularities on the surface being machined.

Circular Machines 6m to 45m (20ft to 150ft) diameter (XL-CSLM):

Large diameters are machined using a scanning laser plane to replace the datum ring. The laser is mounted on the central pivot system and adjusted to scan parallel to the desired machining plane.

The machine operates in a similar manner to the smaller datum ring design. The datum ring followers are replaced by laser targets, which interface with the scanning laser plane and control the wheel height to maintain the milling cutter position to be parallel to the laser plane.

Circular Self Leveling Milling (CSLM)

The CSLM is specifically designed to machine horizontal or near horizontal circular faces from 2 to 9 metres diameter (6.5 to 30ft).

The CSLM is relatively compact and fast to assemble on the work piece because it does not require large bearings and housings to support a rigid arm from the center of the work piece. Instead a milling head, rotating at the diameter to be machined is supported on wheels rolling on the surface being machined and connected by beams to a central pivot post.

The machine cuts a flat plane because the wheels are controlled to maintain the milling cutter in a level plane by referencing off a central ground datum ring, which has been set to the desired plane.

With the circular face cut flat, the machine can rotate on this face to machine any other part of the work piece using attachments such as machining vertical faces some meters below the horizontal face on which the machine rolls.

The Laser Controlled Extra Large Circular Self Leveling Machine – XL-CSLM

The XL-CSLM is specifically designed to machine horizontal or near horizontal circular faces from 6 to 50 meters diameter (20 to 150ft).

Like its smaller brother, the CSLM, the XL-CSLM is relatively compact and fast to assemble on the work piece because it does not require large bearings and housings to support a rigid arm from the center of the work piece or complex and precisely set rails to run on. Instead a milling head, rotating at the diameter to be machined is supported on wheels rolling on the surface being machined and connected by beams to a central pivot post.

The machine cuts a flat plane because the wheels are controlled to maintain the milling cutter in a level plane by referencing off a central scanning laser, which has been set to the desired plane.

Again, like the CSLM, many other concentric and parallel faces can be machined once the face on which the machine rolls has been machined.

The Low Profile Circular Milling Machine – LP-CSLM

The LP- CSLM is specifically designed to machine horizontal or near horizontal circular faces from 1.7 to 4.5 meters diameter (5 to16ft).

It is compact version of the CSLM above designed to fit into a vertical space of only 325mm (13”) Like the CSLM the milling head, rotating at the diameter to be machined is supported on wheels rolling on the surface being machined and connected by beams to a central pivot post.

With the circular face cut flat, the machine milling head can rotated and used to machine the under side of an upper face. Typically the two faces are slew ring bearing faces such as on a crane pedestal and revolving frame.

The machine is extremely versatile and useful in tight access situations.

Vertical Circular Self Leveling Mill – V-CSLM

The LSLM is specifically designed to machine large irregular areas such as Steam turbine horizontal half joints.

The main benefit of this machine is that the milling head assembly is laser controlled using three laser targets and ball screws to ensure it is always machines parallel to the laser plane, regardless of the deflection of the supporting beams. This enables areas as large as 8 by 17 meters (26 x 55ft) to be machined in a single set up to close tolerances.