ANCA will debut its latest development, the TX7+Xchanger at the IMTS exhibition in September. The new machine has been designed with extensive customer input and incorporates an ANCA TX7+ universal grinder with a wheel pack exchanging system and magazine. The magazine holds 16 wheel packs instead of the customary two only found on most CNC grinders, which means the operator now has up to 64 wheels to select from.
This expanded selection holds productivity and cost-saving benefits for companies seeking to maximise automation in mass production of cutting tools or grind complex components that require several different wheel packs to complete.
Having multiple wheel packs set up in the Xchanger magazine provides several new benefits not possible with most grinding machines including the following.
* Immediate follow-on in mass production when the wheel pack needs to be changed due to wheel wear.
This means longer unmanned operation can be achieved.
* No downtime to change wheel packs when switching from one tool type to another, increasing production flexibility.
* Improved occupational health and safety conditions for operators as manual handling of wheel packs is reduced.
This limits exposure to oil and carbide and handling of heavy wheel packs.
* Minimal downtime to set up wheel packs as coolant manifolds and pipes are changed with the wheel pack.
Set-up is done off the machine in a set-up rig, which means production does not have to be interrupted.
All of this adds up to the possibilities of extended unmanned operation, which will deliver greater levels of productivity and lower-cost tools without compromise on precision.
To further increase the flexibility of the TX7+Xchanger, ANCA also built in milling capability.
Tools such as drills and endmills are driven by the spindle using standard Big Plus wheel arbours.
As the milling tools are also stored in the magazine and therefore also changed automatically, features such as holes, keyways and dovetails prove no problem for the TX7+Xchanger.
Although the new machine will be the flagship of ANCA's IMTS exhibit, it will certainly not be on its own.
Other products on show will include the following.
* TapX dedicated tap grinding machine, which can manufacture a complete tap.
* CLX compact loader, which provides an economical automated solution.
* iQual automatical wheel qualification system.
* iView tool measurement and compensation system.
* RX7 compact grinder demonstrating small diameter grinding and the VCS Precision V-block clamp and steady.
* About ANCA - ANCA is an Australian owned company that was founded in 1974 to design and manufacture high technology Computer Numerical Controls (CNCs) for the machine tool and metal-based industries.
Today, ANCA has become a world leading designer and manufacturer of complete, high precision grinding machines competing in a global niche market.
With its core values of precision, innovation, quality and technological excellence, ANCA is today an international organisation of more than 300 employees in 12 countries, with a robust set of technological and entrepreneurial skills.
Offices are located in major cities in Europe, North America and Asia; with dealerships represented in over 25 countries.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Low-cost dust extractors introduced for grinders
Low-cost dust extractors introduced for grinders Low-cost dust extractors for an extensive range of metal grinding machines feature electronic start and stop delay and there is an optional motor brake for decelerating the grinding machine. In order to meet customers' requests, 'Flott' has developed two new low-cost dust extractors for the extensive range of metal grinding machines. The metal dust extractor MA 400 D has been designed for connecting to a 400V power supply and extracting dust from three-phase AC machines, whilst the metal dust extractor MA 200 W has been specifically designed for 230V operation.
Dust is extracted through two transparent PU spiral hoses with a diameter of 50 mm.
The extracted air is filtered via a progressively compacted, matted non-woven fleece (filter class G3 according to EN 779), which features not only a high degree of separation but also has a high dust storage capacity.
The change intervals for the filter insert were thus reduced considerably.
Both metal dust extractors feature electronic start and stop delay; they may be equipped with an optional motor brake for decelerating the machine connected to the unit.
Flott design engineers have attributed considerable importance to quick and easy attachment to the grinding machine.
As a result, it is no longer necessary to wire up the units separately.
The machine is bolted to the metal dust extractor, the plug is inserted in the socket to be used and the two suction hoses are connected up.
Dust is extracted through two transparent PU spiral hoses with a diameter of 50 mm.
The extracted air is filtered via a progressively compacted, matted non-woven fleece (filter class G3 according to EN 779), which features not only a high degree of separation but also has a high dust storage capacity.
The change intervals for the filter insert were thus reduced considerably.
Both metal dust extractors feature electronic start and stop delay; they may be equipped with an optional motor brake for decelerating the machine connected to the unit.
Flott design engineers have attributed considerable importance to quick and easy attachment to the grinding machine.
As a result, it is no longer necessary to wire up the units separately.
The machine is bolted to the metal dust extractor, the plug is inserted in the socket to be used and the two suction hoses are connected up.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Touch screen cylindrical grinder has CNC benefits
Jones and Shipman is showing at IMTS its new Suprema 'Easy' controlled cylindrical grinder a machine specifically aimed at manufacturers who believe they cannot afford to invest in CNC. Designed and produced at the company's Leicester, UK site, the all-new range is easy to use, fast to set up, versatile, and very competitively priced. Accuracy and repeatability are assured; changeover times are minimised because most operator intervention, normally necessary, has been removed by simple but sophisticated software.
The range replaces traditional CNC, microprocessor and hydraulically controlled machines as it retains a conventional layout and operating style.
Offering productivity advantages in areas such as aerospace, mold and die, automotive, medical, etc, the Suprema has particular benefits for medium/short batch work or even one-offs because of the ease and speed of change-over.
Combining the benefits of CNC with traditionally styled operation, it is easy to use even for operators unfamiliar with CNC grinding.
A major advantage of the new Suprema range is the incorporation of a GE-Fanuc Touchscreen control system utilising Jones and Shipman's easy-to-use proprietary self-teach software.
This powerful but simple multi-axis control system combination enables an inexperienced operator to quickly progress from manual single diameter applications to linked cycle/multi diameter single or batch operations.
The Suprema comes complete with embeded software to undertake single or multiple diameter and face grinding, plus dressing of left or right hand facing wheels and the ability to easily form dress profiles and vee forms without additional form dressing attachments.
Additional features such as taper traverse grind, contour grind and easy down/up load to and from PDA, PC, or Network are also included, as are Heidenhain 'Absolute' nano scales for both axes.
A second level of optional software provides solutions, through a grinding-specific PC-based CAD cam software suite which also accepts DXF files, and converts them into grinding or dressing programs incorporating features such as rapid wheel profiling, on screen simulations, collision detection etc Up-grades between software levels is easy and enables users to respond to changes in their work-profile and to develop their own expertise at their own pace.
The range is available in two grinding capacities of 12in x 25in or 12n x 40in (300mm x 650mm or 300mm x 1000mm) and is offered with plain/straight approach wheelhead or three-wheel universal swivelling wheelhead options.
The Suprema is a robustly constructed, one piece Tee bed design.
High geometrical accuracy is ensured by direct-coupled digital AC servo motors and rotary encoders from GE-Fanuc.
Hand-scraped Vee and Flat slideways are provided for the cast machine table underslide.
A high precision twin Vee configuration is used for the wheelhead backslide.
The air purged combined live and dead centre swivel base workhead contains high precision tapered roller bearings for stiffness.
It incorporates a synchronous belt variable speed drive that allows direct programmed speed (rev/min) or constant surface speed (CSS m/s) of the workpiece.
A robust lever operated plain bearing tailstock is provided as standard with a high accuracy taper correction tailstock available as an option.
Philosophy and architecture of the new range is complementary to other Touchscreen controlled machines in the Jones and Shipman portfolio, ensuring operators can switch between machines easily and without additional training.
'The Suprema is another important step forward for Jones and Shipman, and reflects both our ongoing and innovative approach to grinding and our commitment to produce competitively priced products.
The range replaces traditional CNC, microprocessor and hydraulically controlled machines as it retains a conventional layout and operating style.
Offering productivity advantages in areas such as aerospace, mold and die, automotive, medical, etc, the Suprema has particular benefits for medium/short batch work or even one-offs because of the ease and speed of change-over.
Combining the benefits of CNC with traditionally styled operation, it is easy to use even for operators unfamiliar with CNC grinding.
A major advantage of the new Suprema range is the incorporation of a GE-Fanuc Touchscreen control system utilising Jones and Shipman's easy-to-use proprietary self-teach software.
This powerful but simple multi-axis control system combination enables an inexperienced operator to quickly progress from manual single diameter applications to linked cycle/multi diameter single or batch operations.
The Suprema comes complete with embeded software to undertake single or multiple diameter and face grinding, plus dressing of left or right hand facing wheels and the ability to easily form dress profiles and vee forms without additional form dressing attachments.
Additional features such as taper traverse grind, contour grind and easy down/up load to and from PDA, PC, or Network are also included, as are Heidenhain 'Absolute' nano scales for both axes.
A second level of optional software provides solutions, through a grinding-specific PC-based CAD cam software suite which also accepts DXF files, and converts them into grinding or dressing programs incorporating features such as rapid wheel profiling, on screen simulations, collision detection etc Up-grades between software levels is easy and enables users to respond to changes in their work-profile and to develop their own expertise at their own pace.
The range is available in two grinding capacities of 12in x 25in or 12n x 40in (300mm x 650mm or 300mm x 1000mm) and is offered with plain/straight approach wheelhead or three-wheel universal swivelling wheelhead options.
The Suprema is a robustly constructed, one piece Tee bed design.
High geometrical accuracy is ensured by direct-coupled digital AC servo motors and rotary encoders from GE-Fanuc.
Hand-scraped Vee and Flat slideways are provided for the cast machine table underslide.
A high precision twin Vee configuration is used for the wheelhead backslide.
The air purged combined live and dead centre swivel base workhead contains high precision tapered roller bearings for stiffness.
It incorporates a synchronous belt variable speed drive that allows direct programmed speed (rev/min) or constant surface speed (CSS m/s) of the workpiece.
A robust lever operated plain bearing tailstock is provided as standard with a high accuracy taper correction tailstock available as an option.
Philosophy and architecture of the new range is complementary to other Touchscreen controlled machines in the Jones and Shipman portfolio, ensuring operators can switch between machines easily and without additional training.
'The Suprema is another important step forward for Jones and Shipman, and reflects both our ongoing and innovative approach to grinding and our commitment to produce competitively priced products.
Monday, January 1, 2007
Creep-feed grinding gets quicker change-over times
The current surface/creepfeed production environment demands high productivity, accuracy and the minimum cycle times associated with CNC grinding. But many components whilst being perfect for CNC are currently machined on conventional machines due to a variety of reasons, such as smaller batch requirements which necessitate more frequent set ups, shortage of operator skills, or no budget for high cost CNC solutions. Jones and Shipman already a major supplier of CNC surface/creepfeed grinders has used this customer feedback to produce a grinder that has the required performance levels and also overcomes these perceived shortfalls of traditional CNC.
This machine, the Dominator 624 Easy, offers quicker changeover times, a very easy to use touchscreen control, is priced lower than traditional CNC and is now available and was shown in the US for the first time at IMTS 2006.
Jones and Shipman's latest model in the combined Surface and Creepfeed grinder market the Dominator 624 Easy, is ideally suited to either short batch or long production runs in industries as diverse as aerospace, automotive, electrical, medical and mold and die.
Control in either 3 or 4 axes gives the precision, repeatability and reliability of traditional CNC, for it employs the same axis motion control elements, precision ballscrews driven by GE-Fanuc AC digital servomotors coupled with 0.000004in (0.01 micron) Heidenhain 'Absolute' linear scale feedback.
However the Dominator Easy is faster and simpler to set up via the GE-Fanuc touchscreen using Jones and Shipman icon based grinding and dressing software.
This provides Easy models with the capabilities to interpolate axes simultaneously to provide precision grinding of complex shapes, angles, radii and surfaces, with quick and easy set-up.
Even operators with little or no CNC knowledge quickly become familiar with the 'self teach' software and are soon able to precision grind complex components as well as more standard multi surface work.
Once set up, fully automatic dressing and grinding cycles permit unmanned operation.
Alternatively as with all 'Easy' controlled models the Dominator can function as a simple manually controlled machine with manual dressing and no set-up procedures.
Completed programs can be simply and quickly uploaded to or downloaded from a PC, PDA or Network as required, using JandS software, for storage or recall.
The Dominator Easy is available as a standard model or can be tailored to suit the requirements of individual applications.
A wide range of optional equipment is also offered, including permanent or electro-permanent magnetic chucks, wheel dressers and rotary indexing units.
Wheel dressing is by table mounted fixed diamonds, diamond disc dresser or via a diamond roll dresser.
Rotary indexing units include inline, vertical or cross table mounting, with tailstock if required.
On start-up, the Easy control offers the operator three simple options: Manual mode, Dress mode or Grind Cycle mode.
In manual mode, the Dominator Easy operates as a simple hand operated machine with control for the table and infeed via an electronic handwheel with position shown via a readout on the touchscreen.
Work speeds and feeds are also easily adjustable via the touchscreen, should the operator wish to set an area grind, or auto downfeed in place of manual movement.
When formed diamond rolls are not used to dress the wheel the operator can access Dress mode which offers five standard wheel shape macro's including flat, slot, facing, Vee form and full ISO with one or two diamond discs.
Dressing increments, speeds and frequency allow for roughing and finishing to optimise wheel performance.
A feature in the full software package is 'intelligent roughing out' of the wheel, - the system can automatically quickly and efficiently 'chop out' the basic form and then finish dress using the exact profile.
Wheel dressing can be initiated In or Out-of-Cycle and Dress-On-Demand for plain or complex wheelforms is standard.
The 'Dress-On-Demand' feature basically means that the operator can press the Dress button at any time and the machine will stop wherever it is, dress the wheel with full compensation and return to continue from where it left off.
Grind mode allows from One to 20 grind cycles to be linked as the complexity of the component dictates from cycles including plunge, multi plunge, area (intermittent or continuous), face grind, plunge and face, multi plunge and face, and plunge and creepfeed with or without taper.
This machine, the Dominator 624 Easy, offers quicker changeover times, a very easy to use touchscreen control, is priced lower than traditional CNC and is now available and was shown in the US for the first time at IMTS 2006.
Jones and Shipman's latest model in the combined Surface and Creepfeed grinder market the Dominator 624 Easy, is ideally suited to either short batch or long production runs in industries as diverse as aerospace, automotive, electrical, medical and mold and die.
Control in either 3 or 4 axes gives the precision, repeatability and reliability of traditional CNC, for it employs the same axis motion control elements, precision ballscrews driven by GE-Fanuc AC digital servomotors coupled with 0.000004in (0.01 micron) Heidenhain 'Absolute' linear scale feedback.
However the Dominator Easy is faster and simpler to set up via the GE-Fanuc touchscreen using Jones and Shipman icon based grinding and dressing software.
This provides Easy models with the capabilities to interpolate axes simultaneously to provide precision grinding of complex shapes, angles, radii and surfaces, with quick and easy set-up.
Even operators with little or no CNC knowledge quickly become familiar with the 'self teach' software and are soon able to precision grind complex components as well as more standard multi surface work.
Once set up, fully automatic dressing and grinding cycles permit unmanned operation.
Alternatively as with all 'Easy' controlled models the Dominator can function as a simple manually controlled machine with manual dressing and no set-up procedures.
Completed programs can be simply and quickly uploaded to or downloaded from a PC, PDA or Network as required, using JandS software, for storage or recall.
The Dominator Easy is available as a standard model or can be tailored to suit the requirements of individual applications.
A wide range of optional equipment is also offered, including permanent or electro-permanent magnetic chucks, wheel dressers and rotary indexing units.
Wheel dressing is by table mounted fixed diamonds, diamond disc dresser or via a diamond roll dresser.
Rotary indexing units include inline, vertical or cross table mounting, with tailstock if required.
On start-up, the Easy control offers the operator three simple options: Manual mode, Dress mode or Grind Cycle mode.
In manual mode, the Dominator Easy operates as a simple hand operated machine with control for the table and infeed via an electronic handwheel with position shown via a readout on the touchscreen.
Work speeds and feeds are also easily adjustable via the touchscreen, should the operator wish to set an area grind, or auto downfeed in place of manual movement.
When formed diamond rolls are not used to dress the wheel the operator can access Dress mode which offers five standard wheel shape macro's including flat, slot, facing, Vee form and full ISO with one or two diamond discs.
Dressing increments, speeds and frequency allow for roughing and finishing to optimise wheel performance.
A feature in the full software package is 'intelligent roughing out' of the wheel, - the system can automatically quickly and efficiently 'chop out' the basic form and then finish dress using the exact profile.
Wheel dressing can be initiated In or Out-of-Cycle and Dress-On-Demand for plain or complex wheelforms is standard.
The 'Dress-On-Demand' feature basically means that the operator can press the Dress button at any time and the machine will stop wherever it is, dress the wheel with full compensation and return to continue from where it left off.
Grind mode allows from One to 20 grind cycles to be linked as the complexity of the component dictates from cycles including plunge, multi plunge, area (intermittent or continuous), face grind, plunge and face, multi plunge and face, and plunge and creepfeed with or without taper.
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