RCF 6 THREE BALL ON ROD MACHINE – 15000 rpm

 


  •  

     
    • 15,000 rpm
    • Single function
    • Multi-station
    • Easy to Operate
    • Control via PLC




    Description

    The RCF 6 machine is designed to run the standard three ball on rod rolling contact fatigue test geometry, in which three balls, separated by a retainer, are loaded against a rotating rod specimen, by applying an axial force across two taper bearing cups, mounted above and below the three balls.

    The original design, dating from the 1970s, used pre-set compression springs to apply the axial load; in the RCF 6 machine, loads are applied by pneumatic actuator
    The rotating rod is mounted in a simple collet and the rod position relative to the ball specimens may be adjusted to allow multiple tracks to be run on a single rod sample.

    The machine is floor standing and designed to be installed either as a single unit or, more cost effectively, as a multi-unit installation, with the same pneumatic load applied to each test station.
    Each test station incorporates a PLC, with inputs via touch-screen, for independent control of motor speed and test assembly temperature, plus a vibration sensor and adjustable level trigger circuit, for detecting rolling contact fatigue and stopping the motor.
    Load actuators are connected in parallel to a common pneumatic supply, with a manually set precision regulator and a pressure transducer calibrated for load measurement. Manual valves are provided to allow individual actuators to be isolated from the pneumatic circuit, hence removing the load from the associated test station.
    Each station has an independently controlled lubricant supply.
    Although test station motor speeds and test assembly temperatures may be independently controlled, tests are run with the same load applied to each station. As rolling contact fatigue is a statistical process, each test station will record a different number of cycles to failure. Further to this, although the tests may be identical, they do not have to be started at the same time, but can be started and run asynchronously.
    The machine installation footprint is kept to a minimum. It is simple to operate, so requires minimal training.

  • Technical Specifications

    Test Geometry: Ball on rod
    Rod Diameter: 9.53 mm and 10 mm
    Ball Diameter: 12.7 mm
    Motion: Rotary
    Contact Load: 200 to 1200 N
    Fatigue Cycles per Revolution: 2.3828 with 9.53 mm diameter rod
    2.3654 with 10 mm diameter rod
    Speed: 300 to 15,000 rpm
    Motor: 1.4 kW @ 15,000 rpm
    Temperature: Ambient to 80°C
    Test Stations: Up to 6
    Control: PLC
    Lubricant Service Module: Included
    Manually Controlled Parameters
    Load: Pneumatic – actuators in parallel
    Rotational Speed: Each test station independently controlled
    Temperature: Each test station independently controlled
    Vibration Level: Each test station
    Data Logged Parameters
    Load: Pressure transducer – one per installation
    Temperature: Yes – each test station
    Test Duration: Yes – each test station
    Services
    Electricity per Test Station: 220/240V, single phase, 50 Hz, 4.5 kW
    110/120V, single phase, 60 Hz, 4.5 kW
    Clean, dry air: 4 cfm at 8 bar (120 psi)

  • Download the Machine Leaflet