Press releases and professional articles for journalists and editors

The HEIDENHAIN virtual trade show offers machine tool manufacturers innovative solutions for increasing the accuracy, process reliability, and productivity of their machines. This includes new generations of encoders with added value and intelligent drive system designs. Among the highlights for users are Digital Shop Floor software solutions and new control functions.

Grinding provides a path to perfect finishes. But this requires secure mastery of grinding processes and in-process monitoring of machining progress. This year, HEIDENHAIN will be a first-time exhibitor at GrindTec, presenting high-accuracy, robust solutions for machine manufacturers and operator-friendly grinding functions for the user on the TNC 640 control.

In the near future, cable-based elevator technology will no longer need microswitches for brake release monitoring. That’s because the new HEIDENHAIN KCI 419 Dplus rotary encoder for elevators provides not only position feedback for elevator motor control but also additional data for brake monitoring.

A single motor and a host of possibilities: Drives can be simply adapted to a wide variety of applications thanks to encoders from HEIDENHAIN, AMO, and RENCO. 

HEIDENHAIN introduced two new TNC functions. Thanks to OCM, the user can program innovative milling strategies for any pocket and island directly on the TNC control. Meanwhile, new grinding functions round off the TNC 640’s capabilities for complete machining in a single setup.

Having command of highly complex procedures is a clear competitive advantage when it comes to milling and turning. Machine tools that are equipped with controls, encoders, and drive technology from HEIDENHAIN provide the best technical prerequisites.

Deviations of the radius cutter's geometry from the ideal circular shape can negatively influence the surface quality and contour accuracy of a workpiece. With the aid of the powerful and three-dimensional tool-radius compensation option 3D-ToolComp and Cycle 444 PROBING IN 3-D offered by TNC controls, these deviations can be compensated for quickly and easily. 

With the PWT 100 testing device and the PWM 21 inspection device from HEIDENHAIN, specialists for the repair and maintenance of machines and facilities have many highly practical options for displaying and evaluating this comprehensive information as well as for analyzing the encoders.

The ERP 1000 family of angle encoders was developed by HEIDENHAIN for applications requiring exceptionally constant speed control or high position stability at standstill. 

HEIDENHAIN offers absolute rotary encoders with DRIVE-CLiQ interface* for position measurement in machines and production facilities with Siemens controls. 

The HEIDENHAIN turning control CNC PILOT 640 has been impressing customers for many years with many advantages that facilitate the user's high-end turning operations. This is why it is becoming increasingly popular in applications that need to combine simple operation in the workshop with high production quality.

The LIP 6000 exposed linear encoder from HEIDENHAIN, featuring interferential scanning, enables exceptionally accurate position measurement as well as permanently reliable signals, all within in a compact design.

When using torque motors in machine tools, it is often necessary to classify the encoders for safety-related applications according to SIL 2 (as per EN 61 508) or performance level "d" (as per EN ISO 13849), because the rotational axes are usually operated with only one encoder. 

Machine designs for the injection molding of plastics increasingly depend on hybrid or even all-electric drive technology. High-efficiency electric drives close the mold, dose, inject and dispense as well as actuate the frequently coupled extraction robot.