Green compressors made reality with DMG MORI machine

28th April 2017
Posted By : Anna Flockett
Green compressors made reality with DMG MORI machine

After some work and research into cycloidal gearing, CEO of Vert Rotors UK Olly Dmitriev decided that the principles of this technology could be applied to a compressor. The new type of oil-free screw compressor developed and patented by Vert Rotors has proved to be 35% more energy efficient than dry oil-free machines. The main reason for this energy saving is that there is no stator in the design, which is common in rotary twin shaft compressors and which allows the gas being compressed to leak back.

The Vert Rotors compressors have only a pair of male and female screws with virtually no clearance between them, which is where the need for high accuracy 5-axis machining originated for the company.

Dmitriev said: “Until recently all micro compressors capable of producing pressures over 2-3bar were piston compressors, which produce a lot of vibration. Our rotary design is virtually vibration free, which is vital where the compressor is located next to delicate sensors. Example applications where there is a need for a vibration free compressor include satellites or medical devices. Our new 100W desktop compressor ‘VERT.04’ produces pressure of 8bar without vibration, and uses small, high accuracy rotors which need to be machined in 5-axis. We looked at a variety of machines and chose the DMG MORI HSC 20 linear 2nd generation. The machine has linear drives and scales unaffected by backlash and the composite granite frame gives exceptional temperature stability making it possible to achieve 5μm accuracy and very high quality surface finish of Ra 0.15µm.”

Other factors important in the choice of the DMG MORI HSC 20 linear included the minimal headroom and floor preparation required for the installation of the machine. Some of the other machines considered required the installation of extensive foundations under the machine to ensure accuracy. The DMG MORI machine has a footprint of 3.5m2, linear drives in X,Y and Z with 2g acceleration, a shaft cooled spindle for rapid warm-up and thermally stable machining, and a thermosymetrical gantry design with swivelling rotary table.

Dmitriev continued: “On a good day, with a ball screw machine, we can only achieve 10μm accuracy due to backlash problems in 5-axis every time we change the cutting direction. Additionally, we get spindle movement due to temperature fluctuation. With linear drives and temperature control these problems are now in the past. The repeatability and accuracy we can achieve with the HSC 20 linear is crucial to our success.”

DMG MORI and Sauer collaborated with Vert Rotors in the development of the machining strategies, reducing machining times from four hours to just one hour. The machining of the helical surfaces is very challenging and uses 1mm and 3mm diameter tools and custom lollipop cutters operating at 30,000rpm. Tool life under these conditions is quite short, so this is an added incentive to reduce cycle times with the aim of keeping costs down.

Vert Rotors has only had the HSC 20 linear since the end of December 2016 and is continually fine tuning the machining process. Dmitriev said: “We are getting CMM reports which show consistency between each side of the rotors and we are building our expertise on the machine all the time. We were confident with the machine from day one.”

For Vert Rotors, the ability to reliably manufacture the small rotors in its VERT.04 desktop compressor comes at an exciting time for the company as there is no equivalent technology on the market.

“Our single stage compressor will produce 10bar with a high flow rate, low power consumption and small size. In addition, as we use water lubrication, the air produced is oil free and at 400C.”

International interest in the revolutionary design is coming from major companies in the aerospace, medical, defence and automotive sectors. Vert Rotors is looking at numerous applications including the use of one of its compressors on a satellite.

Steve Finn, Managing Director of DMG MORI UK said: “This is the first HSC 20 linear to be installed in the UK and we are delighted to be involved in the development of Vert Rotors’ green compressor technology. We are working in partnership with them to develop local expertise in the UK for this level of high precision machining.”

Dmitriev concluded: “We are keen to build our knowledge and share our skill on this machine with other companies as it can only be good for UK industry. We have made some huge steps forward in just a few weeks which demonstrates the potential of the HSC 20 linear.”


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