HBM supporting process safety during steering assembly for the premium sports car SLS AMG

HBM: With a peak performance of 420 kW, the 6.3 liter engine accelerates the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds. The highest of standards apply during production and quality control of this sports car.

For example, the steering coupling that is produced by DURA Automotive Systems Reiche GmbH is mounted manually and simultaneously subjected to strict quality controls. Modern measurement technology from HBM is used here.

The steering coupling, which serves as the connection between the steering wheel and the steering gear, consists of a corrugated tube, a smooth tube and a double universal joint. The joint used here, a so-called constant velocity joint, has a decisive influence on the steering precision.

Assembly is implemented manually at a specially designed workplace. First of all, the joint that connects both tubes of the steering coupling together is checked. The bending torque of the joint in both movement directions is measured on a test bench. The PW4M platform load cell made by HBM is used here.

After the joint is checked, the tubes are initially fitted with threaded inserts. The modern process monitoring system MP85A FastPress from HBM also guarantees the required quality here. It measures force and displacement during the press-fit process.

The measured data are directly evaluated in the process controller. This checks whether the press forces lie within the specified tolerance window. The process controller not only delivers an "OK" signal, it also transmits the measured process data simultaneously to the test bench control computer via the network.

The tightening torque of the screws is also measured and recorded during the subsequent screw fittings of the parts. All process parameters are recorded and are available in a database. As each steering coupling that leaves assembly has a serial number, hundred percent traceability of individual working steps can be guaranteed with the HBM hardware and software.