Automotive
Automotive
HORN sees itself as particularly well-suited to tackling challenges where sophisticated solutions are required in the high-tech sector. In the automotive industry, it is not just a matter of achieving maximum precision and adhering to the tightest tolerances. New materials and production processes also require constant adaptation or development of new machining techniques. All of this is driven by the extremely dynamic evolution of an industry that is in the midst of a technological transformation. For example, powertrain concepts such as hybrid drive systems and electromobility ensure that the future remains exciting.
Aerospace
Aerospace
Modern design goals focus on making components increasingly lightweight, durable and energy-efficient. Special metal alloys exhibiting precisely defined properties are being used with increasing frequency, or composites that combine materials with different characteristics to create new performance profiles. Added to this are materials once considered exotic, such as titanium, Inconel, MMC and CFRP, which are finding their way into everyday products to an ever-greater extent.
This trend has far-reaching consequences for machining techniques. For example, high-strength steels place extreme demands on the service life of a cutting edge. Fibre-reinforced composites, on the other hand, are characterised by a high level of abrasiveness. Furthermore, the random orientation of the fibres easily leads to fraying, delamination and fibre breakage.
Medical
Medical industry
The manufacture of medical implants, devices and surgical instruments requires cutting tools that are optimally tailored to the complex applications and the specialised materials – some of which are difficult to machine, such as titanium, plastics and ceramics. They must meet the highest standards of quality, precision and process reliability.
In the medical industry, quality and safety are paramount. That is why HORN attaches the utmost importance to the bespoke design of the tool: from the cutting material optimally matched to the workpiece, through the geometric design of the tool at both the macro and micro levels, to an insert with edge preparation adapted to the cutting forces.
Jewellery and Watches
Watch movements, cases, settings and jewellery components are manufactured to dimensions where a few micrometres determine fit and aesthetic appeal – in materials ranging from stainless steels and titanium, through gold and platinum, to brass and ceramics. Precision tools must achieve the tightest tolerances at the smallest diameters, operate without leaving burrs and deliver consistent results during long production runs.
As the machined surface usually remains visible, surface finish is an integral part of the product. This therefore requires sharp, precisely prepared inserts with polished rake faces, controlled chip formation in the tightest of spaces, and tools that deliver thousands of parts of identical quality, even in automatic and sliding-head turning operations. With precious metals, every chip counts: clean processes and minimal rework protect the value of the material.
Tool and Mould Making
Whether for injection moulds, die-casting moulds, stamping and forming tools, or electrodes, tool and mould making usually involves producing a one-off part that must be perfect the first time. This requires cutting tools that can machine hardened tool steels just as reliably as copper, graphite or aluminium, whilst achieving intricate contours, deep cavities and superior surface finishes.
Without the luxury of producing a trial batch to run the tool in, it must cut reliably from the very first part – even during unattended shifts, under tight deadlines and if the overhang is long. Crucial factors are therefore a low-vibration, rigid tool design, consistent tool life and a surface finish that significantly reduces the need for manual polishing. Where the standard product range reaches its limits, HORN works with you to develop the ideal custom tool.
Hydraulics
Hydraulics
Pneumatic and hydraulic systems involve high pressures and immense kinetic forces. There is no room for error; what matters is absolutely reliable technology that fulfils its function without fail. HORN is right at the heart of this action, wherever force-fit connections are required, where energy is converted into motion and where the highest precision must ensure a perfect seal. HORN offers a specialised range of precision tools that help to maintain the tightest tolerances and achieve uncompromising precision.