Breakthrough Achieved in Precision Machining Technology of Hydraulic Forklift Boom: Micron-level Control Empowers Heavy-duty Handling

Recently, a construction machinery enterprise announced that it has made important progress in the field of precision machining of hydraulic forklift booms. Through multi-axis linkage CNC machining and stress compensation technology, it has achieved micron-level dimensional control of key structural components. This technology has been applied to a new generation of heavy-duty hydraulic forklifts, significantly improving the stability and service life of the equipment. According to the R&D team, the hydraulic forklift boom needs to withstand both dynamic loads and hydraulic pressure simultaneously, and traditional processing methods are likely to cause uneven deformation. The new solution adopts the process of "releasing residual stress in stages": First, rough machining is completed on a five-axis machining center, leaving a finishing allowance of 0.5mm; subsequently, the internal stress is eliminated by a vibration aging device, and then mirror milling is carried out. "We have innovatively introduced an online inspection closed-loop system," an engineer demonstrated. During the machining process, the laser displacement sensor provides real-time feedback of data and adjusts the feed rate to ensure that the flatness of the key mating surface reaches 0.01mm. "The core of precision machining of hydraulic forklift booms lies in the deep matching of material properties and process parameters," the project leader revealed. The team has developed a special tool coating for high-strength alloy steel, reducing the cutting force by 30% and achieving a surface roughness of Ra0.4μm. After a 2,000-hour fatigue test, the boom using the new process did not show any cracks, and the change in the clearance of the hinge point was less than 0.02mm. A logistics equipment manufacturer reported that in the -25°C environment of the cold storage, the telescopic positioning accuracy of the boom of the upgraded hydraulic forklift has increased by 40%, and the deviation of cargo stacking is controlled within ±1.5mm. "This significantly reduces the cargo damage rate," said the customer's operation and maintenance manager. The mileage between equipment failures has been extended to more than 5,000 kilometers. The enterprise has established a digital machining database, covering the process parameters of more than 20 types of booms. The technical team revealed that it is developing a virtual commissioning system based on digital twin, which is expected to reduce the research and development cycle of new models by 50%. With the maturity of the precision machining technology for hydraulic forklift booms, the localization rate of core components of high-end warehousing equipment in China is expected to exceed 90%, helping to upgrade the intelligent logistics system.