Yardley Tools steps into CNC grinding

Yardley Tools has installed a Walter Helitronic MiniPower Production CNC tool and cutter grinder to improve both its sub-contract regrinding and manufacture of tungsten carbide cutting tools.

Yardley Tools has installed a Walter Helitronic MiniPower Production CNC tool and cutter grinder in a strategic move to improve both its sub-contract regrinding and manufacture of tungsten carbide cutting tools.

Supplied by Walter GB of Redditch, the five-axis CNC MiniPower represents Yardley's first step into CNC grinding because, says owner Richard Laird, "our customers are increasing replacing HSS tooling with carbide types, and CNC is the only effective way to process these tools".

Based in Knowsley, Liverpool, Yardley Tools' reputation as a specialist tool regrinding company is now being complemented by its development as a manufacturer of tooling - producing a wide range of standard and special end mills, slot drills, ball nose cutters and reamers, for example.

Continues Richard Laird: "Our continual expansion, coupled with the declining use of HSS tools, has prompted this investment.

We looked at all the options, and chose the Walter machine because it was best for us in terms of all-round functionality, quality and price." Capable of grinding tools up to 270 mm long and 100 mm diameter, the Helitronic MiniPower Production has a 9 kW spindle that produces 6 Nm of torque and an infinitely variable speed of 9,500 revs/min.

The machine has X, Y and Z axes traverses of 350 mm, 200 mm and 470 mm, A axis length of 150 mm and C axis of + 200 deg.

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