KOCHI: Underfloor Wheel Lathe (UFWL) machine, which is a crucial tool for operating Metro Rail, was installed at the Muttom depot of the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) on Thursday.
The machine is used for machining of the steel wheels of the Metro coaches to correct the wheel profile. The correctness of the wheel profile will ensure safety of the train service and the passengers.
The machine is also used to optimise the wheel profile and rail wheel interaction, while minimising the wheel/track wear. The system was formally inaugurated by KMRL director (Systems) Praveen Goyal in the presence of officials of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
The UFWL comprises a heavy-duty machine installed in a pit, over which rail vehicles can pass on retractable tracks. The machine has been supplied by Pune-based HYT, which also carried out the installation and commissioning.
An important feature of the lathe is that trains could be placed over the track at the top of the machine, which will then measure the wheel-set while holding up the coach from below (Previously wheel-sets had to be removed from coaches to be measured and worked on, which is a tedious and time-consuming process). Based on the outcome of the measurement, the depth up to which the machining needs to be done is decided and carried out.