Improving energy efficiency of machine tools

Part of: Seliger, Günther (Ed.): Innovative solutions : proceedings / 11th Global Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing, Berlin, Germany, 23rd - 25th September, 2013. - Berlin: Universitätsverlag der TU Berlin, 2013. - ISBN 978-3-7983-2609-5 (online). - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:83-opus4-40276. - pp. 125–130.Manufacturing is responsible for about one half of global consumption of primary energy, a great deal of which is consumed by machine tools producing discrete parts. The topic of energy efficiency is driven forward by machine tool users who demand low operational costs, as well as social and legislative forces requiring environmentally friendlier manufacturing. This paper aims to provide examples and good practices for improving machine tool energy efficiency with a focus on metal cutting machine tools. During the design stage, there are various opportunities to minimize inherent energy losses by selecting and dimensioning drives and peripherals. On the other hand, users have a large impact on productivity by using the machine effectively and knowledgeably. The paper also presents techniques for measurement and analysis of the energy profile of machines which help to better target energy saving measures on already existing machines