Product category:
Abrasive grinding wheels, abrasives
News Release from: Engis (UK) | Subject: Polyamide bonded resin abrasive wheels
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 04 August 2004
Wheel substitution solved materials
change problem
Material changes caused a potential problem to a textile machinery components maker as diamond wheels were no longer suitable but polyamide bonded resin abrasive wheels do the job.
Ironspray designs and manufactures specialised components, such as loopers, hooks and knives, for the carpet and textile manufacturers, as well as manufacturing replacement wear parts for textile looms In a challenging industry, with fierce international competition, this South Wales company employs almost 50 staff and exports over 80% of its production to countries around the world
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 8 Jan 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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To satisfy its grinding requirements across a range of applications and materials Ironspray uses many different types of grinding wheels from Engis' extensive range, including both diamond and CBN wheels.
However, in manufacturing nothing stands still for long and in Ironspray's case, this has meant major changes to the material construction of one of the company's principal products, which developed from being manufactured purely from tungsten carbide, to being a composite with a tungsten carbide insert in a hardened steel casing.
The benefits to the end-customer of these developments were considerable as the tungsten carbide tips of the original loopers could sometimes damage the needles, which were expensive items.
Further reading
Cooling nozzles boost grinding performance
Cooling system reduces coolant consumption, increases stock removal efficiency, extends grinding wheel life and provides enhanced surface finish characteristics.
Diamond compounds provide more surface coverage
Diamond compounds, specifically designed for mould polishing, provide more surface coverage and improved impregnation of lapping tools. The products are also oil soluble.
The new composite design meant that the needles only came into contact with the hardened steel and therefore could not be damaged by the tungsten carbide.
However, these material changes caused a potential problem to Ironspray as the original diamond wheels which had been used for the grinding, were no longer suitable to the task.
Fortunately, Engis could offer a solution right away, with its new polyamide bonded resin abrasive wheels which are not only extremely hard, but offer a much longer life compared to the original resin bonded wheels.
The excellent abrasive qualities of these resin bonded wheels are the result of a manufacturing process which includes being baked to a temperature so high that, if it were not carried out in vacuum ovens, would result in the diamond reverting to its carbon form.
Machine tool developments are also resulting in faster, more high-powered grinding operations which again result in greater demands being placed on the abrasive wheels they use for grinding.
Engis, with its more than 30 years of grinding and electroplating experience brings a wealth of experience and continuous research and development to its product range which includes both ElectrogripR diamond and CBN electroplated grinding wheels, to suit customers' specific applications and machine configurations.
Customers such as Ironspray really appreciate the technical expertise of Engis' staff and know they can rely on their unparalleled experience and knowledge of all aspects of grinding technology.
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