This is the structure of the material used to build the 345DESME cutting bridge.

A complex honeycomb mesh made of aluminium alloys guarantees lightness and unequalled strength; this was the foundation for the design of a machine with remarkable levels of performance.

This technology, developed for the aerospace industry, has been implemented by the technicians at Bottero who were searching for the utmost performance, aware that performance didn’t have to take precedence over reliability. The minimum weight and the sturdiness of the material guarantee that the motors don’t have to work quite so hard and the machine organs are all subject to less stress. Just think of moving a steel bridge weighing five times as much at the same speed and try asking the pinions, motors and belts what they think!

Gantry axle technology has been used to move the bridge of the 345 DESME, but exactly what is it?

The gantry axle is an electric axle linking the two motors installed on the bridge heads.

Thanks to the new, fully digital control of the axles, electronics and software developed by the technicians at Bottero, the two motors are moved as though they were one.

In perfect synchronicity they move the bridge on the two runners with levels of performance that a transmission shaft simply couldn’t sustain.

THE ADVANTAGES.

• Precision: thanks to digital control.

• Weight: fewer mechanical parts, pinions and gears subject to maintenance and slackening.

• Performance: two motors definitely perform better than one, and if the bridge is light but solid and there are no torsion limits…

All the power of the two motors had to be released onto a transmission which was not only safe, well dimensioned and reliable, but most importantly, precise, because the aim of Bottero and its technicians was to have performance and precision.

The first step was to completely redesign the runners, making them strong and durable, thus able to cope with stress.

The individual components, racks and pinions were tested on the bench, simulating millions of cycles before being approved for use.

The second step was to design a double fitting for every motor.

A four pinion transmission system was created, with two pinions for each motor which are fitted onto the runner in contraposition.

THE ADVANTAGES.

• Precision: the two opposing pinions eliminate the mechanical slack in relation to the rack.

• Reliability: the forces for each individual pinion are halved, thus halving wear and tear.

• Performance: four pinions transmit more torque and power.

If Japanese trains can travel at 500 km/h and stop with the doors exactly in front of the feet of those waiting to climb on board, why not use the same technology on a cutting table?

This is the challenge and the solution used by Bottero to move the new cutting carriage.

Made of aluminium alloy, the cutting carriage has been equipped with a linear motor, in other words a system which moves at very high speed without mechanical contacts, exploiting the magnetic attraction applied to the special runner anchored to the bridge.

THE ADVANTAGES

• Precision: thanks to digital control and the absence of pinions and rack which could be affected by mechanical slack.

• Weight: fewer mechanical parts, with no pinions and no racks.

• Reliability: fewer mechanical parts, less maintenance and wear and tear.

This is the "airbag" for the cutting head.

Our experience in building cutting tables has taught us that a collision between a sheet of broken glass and the cutting head can have disastrous consequences, both for the machine and for our customers, who find themselves in a situation where the machine is unable to operate and extensive repairs have to be carried out.

This device, accompanied by a digital sensor, guarantees controlled breakage of the tool holder alone in the case of collisions, with no damage to the other parts of the cutting head. It is quick and cheap to replace, this being the only difference from the "airbags" installed in vehicles.