Air International steering column burnishing machine

A PLC controlled machine which burnishes together machined and moulded parts in telescopic automotive steering columns was designed, manufactured and commissioned. The column shafts are splined to transmit steering torque and a plastic compound is injection moulded into an annulus in the splines. This restricts angular play, which creates parts that are initially too tight to slide. The burnishing machine reciprocates the parts to ‘wear’ them in and then applies grease to prevent further wear in use. Each machine stroke is monitored by a load cell and when the required force is reached grease is applied. The machine incorporates sensors to automatically adapt to different telescopic column designs and is designed to work at high speed to meet cycle time requirements.