b'\x1b\x1a\x19 \x1f\x18\x1d\x17\x16Machine TechnologyCLOSING IN ON SAFETYBy Bill Leventon surrounding environment. and coolant coming from the work For many applications, metal iszone, Chavez said. Another option C NC machine tool owners withthe preferred choice for enclosurefor Hennig is aluminum, which can a healthy concern for their em- panels. Hennig Inc., Machesneybe used to lighten the loads of large ployees are advised to enclose theirPark, Ill., makes most of its enclo- enclosure panels.machines in protective structures. sure panels out of cold-rolled steel.When enclosure panels are made These structures, known as en- The thickness of these panels var- of metal, windows allow machine closures, serve as barriers betweenies from 14 to 7 gauge, dependingoperators to see inside. According shop personnel and materials likeon the machines spindle speed,to Chavez, Hennig enclosures in-swarf and coolants traveling fromaccording to Frank Chavez, engi- clude safety-level windows made amachinesometimesathighneering and business unit managerof materials such as laminated glass, which consists of a protective vinyl layer inside two glass layers.Other enclosure options besides those with metal panels include wire mesh and plastic structures, both of which Faztek sells. If the customer is trying to keep peoples fingers out of the machining area and keep large chunks of material from flying out, we can use a wire mesh, McDevitt said. However, if some type of cool-ant is being sprayed around and the customer needs to have good visibil-ity into the machine, we will go with polycarbonate. Hennig Faztek uses316 "- or12 "- thick poly-A machine enclosure protects operators from injury and machinery from damage. carbonate sheets to make its trans-parent plastic enclosures, depending speedsduring cutting operations. of Hennigs fabrications division.on the impact resistance needed. If While the main purpose of an en- (Spindle speed determines how fastyour machine tool is throwing out closure is to keep people safe, it cana projectile exits a machine.) 1"1" boring chips at 400 mph, we perform another important functionInstead of cold-rolled steel, Hen- would go with12 " polycarbonate as well.nig sometimes opts for stainlesssheet, McDevitt said.We like to say were in the busi- steel enclosure panels. With itsIn some cases, only steel pan-ness of protecting companies as- smoother surface, stainless steel canels may be able to provide enough sets, said Aaron McDevitt, presi- be a little better at deflecting chipsimpact resistance to deflect large dent of Faztek LLC, a Fort Wayne,chunksofmaterialflyingfrom Ind., supplier of custom machinethe machining area, McDevitt said. safety products. That means pro- William LeventonSteel is also a better choice for ap-tecting their employees, for sure,is a contributingplications generating extreme heat editor for CTE. but also protecting machines. ForContact him atthat could melt plastic panels, he example, an enclosure can safe- (609) 926-6447 oradded.guard a machine from forklift im- wleventon@gmail. In addition to performing their pacts and harmful substances in thecom. traditionalprotectivefunctions, 26MARCH 2018MachineTech.indd 26 2/14/18 3:09 PM'