Machining down to the micron

The international trade fair for precision and microtechnology, Micronora in Besançon, France, is where the world focuses on the micron, the thousandth of a millimeter. At this show Chiron Group’s Micro5 convinced the jury in the machine and equipment category and was awarded the Micron d’or (Golden Micron).

Micronora was originally created to promote watchmaking techniques and micromechanics, but in 1976, with the watchmaking sector in crisis, the trade fair’s focus turned to high-precision technology. Micromechanics and microelectronics then became increasingly present in products. In 1980, Micronora honed its brand image by adopting the term microtechnology. The name Micronora is composed of two parts: Micron (for micron precision) and Ora [(H) ora in reference to watchmaking]. Microtechnology is technology whose features have dimensions of the order of one micrometer (one millionth of a meter, or 10⁻⁶ meter, or 1μm).

In 2017 development began of a machine that was designed for the size and required precision of very small workpieces. After three prototypes that had to prove themselves in daily Swiss working practice throughout several years, seven years later the idea has become a product manufactured in series by the Chiron Group for process-reliable, economical, and sustainable production of highly precise parts. Andreas Lorenz, product manager Chiron France, and Samuel Vuadens, co-founder of the Micro5, presented the machine for consideration for the Micron d’or award, including the technical data such as 60 tool places, spindle speeds up to 60,000rpm, a repeat accuracy of 0.5µm, sophisticated automation solutions with robot cells, and autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs). Additionally, the machine has minimal power consumption of 0.5kW/h and a small space requirement of just 1,550in².

Fabrice Belin, CEO of Chiron France, sums up the advantages of the Micro5 series as follows: “With the modular design principle of the Micro5, users can make their micro-part production resource- efficient, ultra-precise, autonomous, and scalable – in Switzerland, around 150 Micro5’s are currently successfully machining high-precision components for the watch, jewelry, and medical technology industry.”

As far as the future of the Micro5 in France is concerned, Belin sees good prospects: “In France, which is now our second most important market, there will already be more than 20 machines in the field by the end of this year.”

Chiron Group
https://chiron-group.com

About the author: Elizabeth Engler Modic is editorial director for GIE Media’s Manufacturing Group. She can be reached at 216.303.0264 or EModic@gie.net.