According to Sandvik production engineer Kevin Bate, the new five-axis machine with integrated robot handling will be used to replace an ageing Ewag Ewamatic grinder in the production of a wide range of inserts. "In particular," he says, "the machine will prove invaluable in the effective and efficient processing of a variety of special-purpose inserts."

As well as 3-D workpiece measuring and tension pin workpiece mounting for maximum accessibility, the machine also incorporates Ewag's Pro Grind software for user-friendly touch screen programming with functionality for: Human Machine Interface – simplified set-up and highlighting production data that can be continuously accessed Flexible programming – programs compiled from pre-defined function blocks Hardware management – clamping, measurement and grinding wheel data for each workpiece type is simply transferred across from the database to the operating program, and Robot integration – with pallet size and part flow, for example, quickly defined. Importantly, the operator can control all attributes – and access the complete machine interior – from one position, thus demonstrating the compactness of a machine that occupies a floorspace of just 7m2. SOURCE: Wildish Communications Ltd

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World-leading tooling manufacturer Sandvik Tooling Supply has ordered a new Ewag CNC Compact Line tool grinder from WALTER Machines UK of Honiley, near Kenilworth, to enhance insert production at its Featherstone site in Wolverhampton.

Importantly, the operator can control all attributes – and access the complete machine interior – from one position, thus demonstrating the compactness of a machine that occupies a floorspace of just 7m2.

With resolutions of 0.0001 mm in the X, Y and Z axes that have travels of 450 mm by 180 mm by 150 mm, and a similar resolution in the B axis, the machine's grinding head (A axis) has a movement range of – 15deg to + 25deg and the 5.5 kW spindle produces up to 10,000 revs/min.

Able to process carbide, cermet, ceramic and CBN/PCD tools, the Ewag Compact Line grinder has a number of in-built features designed to reduce non-productive cycle times as complementary to its six-axis Fanuc robot. For example: Three in-one wheel sharpening unit – dressing, regenerating and crushing Universal workpiece clamping systems located identically on the B axis and quickly identified using the Ewag Plug & Play interface for reduced changeover times Fast pushbutton wheel change (one or two wheels of 250 mm diameter) via the HSK-E 50 system. With resolutions of 0.0001 mm in the X, Y and Z axes that have travels of 450 mm by 180 mm by 150 mm, and a similar resolution in the B axis, the machine's grinding head (A axis) has a movement range of – 15deg to + 25deg and the 5.5 kW spindle produces up to 10,000 revs/min. As well as 3-D workpiece measuring and tension pin workpiece mounting for maximum accessibility, the machine also incorporates Ewag's Pro Grind software for user-friendly touch screen programming with functionality for: Human Machine Interface – simplified set-up and highlighting production data that can be continuously accessed Flexible programming – programs compiled from pre-defined function blocks Hardware management – clamping, measurement and grinding wheel data for each workpiece type is simply transferred across from the database to the operating program, and Robot integration – with pallet size and part flow, for example, quickly defined. Importantly, the operator can control all attributes – and access the complete machine interior – from one position, thus demonstrating the compactness of a machine that occupies a floorspace of just 7m2. SOURCE: Wildish Communications Ltd