Short delivery times thanks to 5-axis technology and PRODUCTION PLANNING from DMG MORI
With a DMU 50 3rd Generation from DMG MORI, Fertigungstechnik Liebetrau is able to manufacture over 70 percent of its components.
Fertigungstechnik Liebetrau is pursuing the vision of inspiring customers with customized and high-quality production solutions. 28 highly qualified specialists in Wutha-Farnroda ensure that customers, including those from the medical technology and automotive industries, are supplied with perfect precision components – from prototypes to assemblies and up to series parts. A flexible fleet of machines comprising two turning centers and seven 5-axis universal milling machines from DMG MORI helps the team to process the increasing number of orders. In the milling area, Liebetrau operates a DMU 80 eVo with pallet changer, a DMU 60 eVo linear and, since 2017, a DMU 50 3rd Generation, amongst others. Fast workflows and short delivery times guarantee intelligent planning, which is all digitally organized with the help of PRODUCT PLANNING from DMG MORI.
Fertigungstechnik Liebetrau GmbH & Co. KG
“As a machining service provider, we are only satisfied when our customers are too,” says Tony Liebetrau. He manages the company together with Katrin Lippold. In today’s competitive environment, this satisfaction can only be attained with an integral approach: “As a production partner along the entire value creation chain, our company concentrates on the core processes.” He calls this service, from the development to the production of whole assemblies, “ALL IN ONE”. By far the most important core process at Liebetrau is machining. Both the employees’ expertise as well as CNC technology are decisive for Tony Liebetrau: “We are able to fully exploit the potential offered by turning machines and machining centers thanks to the specialist expertise and years of experience.”
5-axis simultaneous machining in the hundredths range
The Liebetrau fleet of machines is designed for maximum efficiency and the highest manufacturing quality. Complete machining using turning/milling technology and 5-axis simultaneous milling are worthy of a mention here as well as the DMU 60 eVo linear, which offers excellent precision. DMG MORI also installed a DMU 50 3rd Generation as a field test machine in 2017: “This allows us to provide direct feedback from the field so we can contribute to further improvements to the machine,” Tony Liebetrau reflects. The overall machine package impressed him: “The work area of 650 x 520 x 475 mm with 300 kg load capacity offers sufficient space for over 70 percent of our components. At the same time, the design of the machine is very compact with a footprint of just 6.7 m² – the perfect ratio of manufacturing capacity to production space.”
“The versatility of the 5-axis DMU 50 3rd Generation and its high precision up to 5 µm fulfills all our requirements for quality-orientated manufacturing,” sums up Tony Liebetrau. The B-axis ensures the highest flexibility with a swivel range of ‑35° to +110°. An integrated cooling concept – including cooled table bearings – the one-piece machine bed, directly driven ball screws and direct position measuring systems in all axes guarantee the required precision. A speedMASTER spindle with 20,000 rpm rounds off the range of equipment features of the DMU 50 3rd Generation. He also praises the ergonomic design of the universal milling machine: “The accessibility of the workspace and the tool magazine is optimal.” Setup parallel to production minimizes idle times and increases productivity.
Integrated digital production planning with DMG MORI
For Liebetrau, productivity encompasses the entire process. The company uses Autodesk FeatureCAM for CAD/CAM programming. Manufacturing orders are managed digitally: PRODUCTION PLANNING from DMG MORI was also introduced last year. ISTOS, a subsidiary of the DMG MORI Group, developed this intelligent planning tool as the link between incoming orders and production. “It enables situation-related planning to combat limited capacities,” Tony Liebetrau explains the added value of planning the production, the material requirements and the manufacturing processes. The PRODUCTION FEEDBACK application enables agile planning and control of the entire production process. It provides updated production progress reports, for example, through the CELOS user interface, directly from the machine back to PRODUCTION PLANNING. “The result of this completely digital process chain are resource-saving and cost-optimized operation processes.”
Focus on automation and digitalization
Tony Liebetrau also considers the digitalization of processes to be a topic for the future as well as automated production: “We already use the DMU 80 eVo model with pallet changer. The next step will be another DMU 50 3rd Generation.” It will be ordered with a PH 150 pallet handling system. “This will enable us to remain competitive and continue to expand.”