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CNC Machining System for Butt-Welded Steel Rails

For the rail industry, HAGE realized a high-performance CNC machining system for fully automatic removal of excess weld material on butt-welded steel rails.
01 / 03

Two milling spindles machine the rail joint from above and below using specially developed contour milling cutters, ensuring that the weld seam is precisely removed around the entire rail contour.

A particular challenge lies in automated tool handling. The special tools, weighing up to 60 kg, are removed from a tool magazine by robot, fed to the main spindle and returned after machining. Before each machining process, the rail joints are measured and aligned on both sides using a 3D probe.

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Technical Data

  • Main milling spindle: 70 kW / SK-60
  • Below-floor spindle: 42 kW / SK-50
  • Torque of main milling spindle: 1,000 Nm
  • Tool magazine: 15 positions
  • Maximum tool weight: up to 60 kg

Highlights

  • Fully automatic machining of butt-welded rail joints
  • Two machining spindles for upper and lower-side machining
  • Machining process: milling off excess weld material around the rail
  • Robot-assisted tool change for heavy special tools
  • 3D measurement before mechanical machining
  • High process reliability with tight tolerances in rail manufacturing