Smartbore ™ is a manual boring system that combines micron-accurate adjustment of the cutting edge with unprecedented operator ease-of-use by providing a remote digital readout within a cartridge-based or built-in architecture.

The engineering world constantly craves the ability to machine items at ever finer tolerances, ever more reliably. As well as being conducive to improved quality and standards it encourages greater productivity, too – bottlenecks in assembly can be reduced (because parts fit together as they should) and less rejects are generated. Rigibore®’s Smartbore™ technology empowers manufacturers to achieve these efficiencies.

Changes to the cutting edge are communicated to a combined adjustment and read-out tool (the Smartbore ™ Adjuster) via the Smartbore ™ unit and then presented on a digital LCD display built into the Adjuster.

This facilitates easy and highly accurate adjustment by providing a digital readout of any alterations that are made.

But a radio-link built into the Adjuster also allows another possibility. Explains Rigibore®’s Don Charlton, Project Manager, Research & Development: “we wanted to give our customers a choice where they could display the adjustment data – sometimes it’s more appropriate close-in to the tool, at other times the tool-face is too cramped. So with Smartbore ™, the data can also be relayed to something much bigger and more readable – a nearby computer screen, say, or even an easily viewed large plasma screen mounted high in the manufacturing hall.” Naturally, both metric/inch and radius/diameter readings are available.

The system relies on a highly accurate position transducer built into each Smartbore ™ unit. This derives power from the Adjuster when it is engaged, whereupon the transducer output is then displayed on the Adjuster screen.

Smartbore™ is an exceptionally flexible system: as well as being incorporated into new tools it can also readily be retrofitted to existing tools (Smartbore™ units replacing, for instance, older UFP cartridges). Suitable for a wide range of boring applications, it can be incorporated into tools to fit any machine spindle with multiple Smartbore™ cutting edges per tool for multiple bore machining.

Flexible design:

• Minimum bore: 28mm on diameter if cartridge based, 16mm if built-in
• Adjustment resolution on diameter: 1µm/.00004” on diameter
• Relative accuracy > 95% over adjustment range
• Adjustment range: 0.6mm/.024” on diameter
• Multiple Smartbore ™ cutting edges per tool for multiple bore machining
• Designed to suit any application/fit any machine spindle.
• Adjuster can be used with any number of tools
• Unprecedented ease-of-use: manual adjustment with easily legible digital readout, even when tools are difficult to access
• Metric or imperial measurements display
• Rechargeable batteries for the Adjuster

Download a brochure on Smartbore™ here