L.M. Gianetti Special Parts
“There’s no sense investing in advanced high-capacity machines if they are then left idle during unproductive retoolings. We retool very often,” explains Paolo Gianetti, MD of L.M. Gianetti Special Parts in the Italian automobile town of Turin. He continues: “The more expensive a machine, the more reason to get as many spindle hours out of it as possible.”
For over forty years, L.M. Gianetti Special Parts has been delivering components to the racing world – both cars and bikes. Exports make up quite a bit more than 70 percent of its production.
Shock absorber mount in Ergal for Ford’s rally cars – machining time around 2 hours
Whenever you see a race, whether it is Formula 1, Nascar, World Rally Championship, WDTCC or similar, it is highly likely that Gianetti is present in at least one of the stables. Not that the name will be evident, but the components are there. Rest assured!
Ordinary steel is seldom machined in the company’s climate-controlled workshops. Components are made in advanced materials such as titanium, aluminium (predominantly Ergal) or high-alloy special steels. As regards materials and the environment, the company works closely with several research centres and universities.
Paolo Gianetti: “The production race is decided at retoolings. Rapid retooling, minimum time loss and out on the track again!”
Gianetti faces the greatest pressure just before the racing season. The intense development work carried out by the racing stables at this time demands speedy deliveries of new components (usually one-offs) for testing and evaluation. After evaluation and any corrections, there will then be “mammoth series” of 4 to 5 units.
Well aware that competitiveness does not grow on trees, Paolo Gianetti invests continually in the latest technology. Furthermore, having established a strong position, there can be no resting on laurels. Those who take things easy risk not only being overtaken, but also losing all their hard won gains.
Milling is by far the commonest machining operation. However, turning, grinding, EDM, welding and vacuum soldering are also everyday tasks for the company’s 50 highly skilled employees. The company now has over 16 CNC milling machines.
“Just over a year ago, we installed two new 5-axis DMU 80P hi-dyns,” relates Paolo Gianetti. “Powerful machines when they’re running. However, the frequent retoolings limited spindle hours. As an F1 enthusiast, I know that many races are decided at pit stops. Retoolings are undoubtedly our pit stops.”
Titanium component for a rear wing of one of the F1 teams.
Thus, following a recommendation, it was decided to equip the machines with System 3R’s pneumatic Delphin system. One of the advantages of Delphin is that, as regards the number of chucks and their positions, each company can decide how it wants to equip the machine table to best meet its specific needs. Gianetti chose four chucks in a cross pattern with standardised centre dimensions for each machine table. The existing vices and fixtures were adapted by quite simply equipping them with the corresponding clamping spigots.
Paolo Gianetti: “A very moderate investment that increased spindle hours in these machines by over 20 percent. We secure each workpiece in its fixture or vice outside the machine while it is running another job. When that job is finished, we quickly and easily lift in the new set-up and we are out on the track again. Excellent! And this is just the beginning; the remaining machines are also to be upgraded with the Delphin system.”
True to his practice of always going forward to maintain the company’s strong position, Paolo Gianetti has now begun to reflect on the step to automated one-off production. All to further reduce lead times.
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