Occupying 100m² of real estate, Advanced Grinding Solutions (AGS) has booked one of its biggest ever stands at MACH this year.
All machines on show will be making their UK debuts, so customers looking for a wide range of advanced grinding and finishing solutions will find plenty on offer.
Rollomatic
AGS will showcase the new Rollomatic 660XW GrindSmart multi-axis tool grinding machine with this being the first machine of several sold into the UK having been purchased by a leading UK cutting tool manufacturer.
The innovative hybrid design of the latest Rollomatic machine combines, for the first time, the power and performance of a blank prep cylindrical grinder with the flexibility of a multi-axis tool grinder to allow all machining operations to be carried in one single automatic operation on the same machine and in one clamping. According to AGS, this is the first time cutting tools can be machined complete in a highly efficient single grinding process.
The use of this technology also brings significant gains in production efficiency for tool manufacturers and the savings made are substantial because lengthy set ups on multiple machines are avoided all together – as is the handling and storage of partly finished tools between machines.
“Typical production efficiency from the traditional multi-machine production method for standard end mills is in the region of 11% and this is increased to some 82% on the Rollomatic 660XW machine,” enthuses Chris Boraston, AGS’ managing director. “There are also large savings in manpower as the number of different machine types needed is greatly reduced.
“This is a totally new design of grinding machine that despite combining all necessary grinding operations actually has a smaller footprint than standard tool grinders that do not have a true cylindrical grinding capability,” he adds.
“Like all Rollomatics it is also an extremely accurate machine that is easily capable of holding tight tolerances of just 2µm on tool runout across large batches of tools. Also standard on Rollomatic grinders is the industry leading three year unlimited hours parts and labour warranty.”
Tschudin
Also on display for the first time in the UK is the latest Tschudin Cube centreless grinding machine which benefits from a highly radical design that AGS says sets it apart from all other centreless grinders as was acknowledged by it winning a Red Dot Design Award.
The Tschudin Cube enables users to achieve significant productivity gains and quick and flexible changeover times help to minimise machine downtime. What sets the Cube machine apart in particular is its very small size and open design for easy access. Users only need access to the rear of the machine to perform maintenance and servicing tasks, which means that several machines can be positioned together without any gaps.
The grinder can be manually loaded in a safe and ergonomic way outside of the grinding zone. The Cube uses Tschudin’s patented W-axis which has the work-rest blade mounted onto its own CNC axis that allows for parts to be loaded to it outside of the grinding area making loading efficient, fast, and safe. Traditional centreless grinding machines require parts to be loaded to a fixed work-rest blade that sits inside the machine between the grinding wheel and control wheel making loading difficult, more expensive, and sometimes unsafe.
This also makes changeovers more complex and therefore lengthier. The Tschudin machine overcomes all of these issues and claims to be the world easiest and fastest centreless grinding machine to set-up as the grinding and control wheel can be changed in around six minutes.
AGS has sold a Tschudin Cube to Hydraulic Projects based in Dawlish; a specialist manufacturer of high precision hydraulic control valves and pumps. This is part of a large investment in new machinery as the company, which was founded in 1966 and is still a family-owned business, looks to expand further and increase its manufacturing capabilities at its base in Devon.
Comat
Receiving its UK debut, and exhibiting at MACH for the first time ever is Comat with its C-120 filtration system. Comat Superfiltration systems are engineered to filter neat cutting oil to 2-3µm (with a classification NAS 1638 – ISO 4406 better than new oil), while constantly maintaining a stable temperature (±0.2°C), without compromising filtration or flow rates so to ensure maximum consistency over time.
Comat Superfiltration systems minimise running costs to obtain the lowest cost per litre of oil filtered and the C120 is the latest generation of compact Superfiltration systems designed to manage a single machine tool. It is able to filter any type of contaminant (hard metal, high speed steel, medical steel, ceramic, brass) and guarantee intelligent performance comprising energy saving and process optimisation via remote monitoring from Comat’s headquarters near Milan to ensure systems are always delivering peak performance.
FLP
FLP (Fine Grinding, Lapping and Polishing Machines) are showing its new FLP380 single sided lapping machine. The broad range of FLP machines also include twin wheel - double sided CNC lapping/fine grinding machines and visitors to the AGS stand are invited to the stand to discuss their requirements for the face grinding of components.
FLP double disc or twin wheel machines have seven models in the range offering a working disc diameter of between 540 and 1,300mm. These can all be offered with full automation via linear or robotic solutions, and weigh between seven and 16 tons.
These advanced machines are offered as high-precision versions with granite machine beds and the latest machine controls, drives and measurement technology. FLPs machines are in use across many areas of engineering including automotive, aerospace, bearings, optics and ceramics and produce components to close tolerances at optimum production rates. User friendly simple machine operation is ensured as is the lowest cost per machined component.
Krebs & Riedel
Specialists from Krebs & Riedel will be present on the AGS stand to discuss all grinding applications and best use of its range of internal and external grinding wheels. The company manufactures high-quality conventional, diamond and CBN abrasives and is constantly introducing new types of wheels with improved grain structures and novel bonding systems that enhance grinding wheel quality and optimise performance.
Apart from offering high stock removal rates to improve cycle times, combined with more consistent part quality by avoiding micro-cracks in the surface of sensitive parts, another benefit of using Krebs wheels lies in large cost savings made possible by reducing wheel dressing requirements.
This has the three major advantages of lower wheel waste due to less dressing, faster cycle times as wheels can be kept grinding longer in between dressing them, and also a reduced spend on expensive diamond rollers. Krebs and Riedel is developing new wheels all the time and those are added to the existing collection of over 60,000 different wheel types that are available.
Advanced Grinding Solutions
www.advancedgrindingsolutions.co.uk
Hall 17, Stand 320
