Product category:
Tool and cutter grinding
News Release from: Walter GB | Subject: Five-axis CNC tool grinder
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 27 July 2005
Toolmaker invests in CNC grinding and
measurement
Commitment to lights-out, unmanned production, a tooling company has invested in its sixth 5-axis CNC tool grinder and a tool measuring machine to stay ahead of competition.
Specialist tooling supplier Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) has boosted its Walter 'tool system' armoury by installing a Heli Toolcheck tool measuring machine and has ordered its sixth Helitronic five-axis CNC tool grinder, *To keep ahead of the competition through guaranteed high-quality output and responsive service," according to technical director Roy Talbot Purchased as part of the market-leading company's continual improvement programme that in recent years has seen more than GBP 3 million invested in state-of-the-art production facilities, Talbot says the latest installations of the Walter equipment are underpinned by the company's inherent desire to meet a rising order book in the most effective and efficient manner
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 25 Nov 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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While ITC regards the Heli Toolcheck tool measuring machine as 'decisive' in the product quality stakes, its latest Helitronic Power tool grinder comes complete with Production Loader and thus extends ITC's commitment to lights-out, unmanned production.
The Production Loader can accommodate and randomly process 280 tools of up 32mm diameter and 220mm long, and it complements ITC's use of three other auto loading systems on Walter machines.
"Of course, the Walter loaders enable us to run the machines unmanned and overnight, if necessary," says Talbot.
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"We have found that the extra investment in the loader technology more than repays itself in terms of ITC retaining both its competitive edge and an enviable level of customer service." The latest machine is ITC's sixth Walter machine in as many years, says Talbot, who adds that apart from the company's inherent desire is: "To use the best tool grinders available, another reason for repeatedly returning to Walter GB is the fact that the service and back-up from Redditch is excellent." Based in Tamworth, Sattfordshire, UK, ITC specialises in the design, manufacture and regrinding of a wide range of HSS and carbide tooling for customers across many industry sectors, particularly aerospace, motor sport mould and die/toolmaking.
In addition to a burgeoning regrinding business: "Thanks to the Walter machines, we can provide a regrind service that restores tooling back to original geometry," comments Talbot - the company is also the sole UK stockist of Hanita (Israel) and Metal Removal (USA) products.
The five-axis Helitronic Power is a sturdy machine weighing in at 4.5 tonnes for unrivalled rigidity and stability.
Offering 11.5kW of power, rapid traverse rates are 15m/min in all linear axes and 120 deg/s on the rotational axes.
The machine can accommodate tools up to 350mm long (300mm for face grinding) and 320mm diameter.
Walter's 'tool system' philosophy at ITC has also been extended with the introduction of the Heli Toolcheck tool measuring machine.
Accommodating tools up to 300 mm diameter and 500mm long, the machine has a repeatable measuring accuracy of +/-2 microns.
It has X, Y and Z axes of 310mm by 290mm by 640mm - and 60 rev/min in the rotational (a) axis - and is designed for the standard tolerance (+/-2 to 4 microns) measuring of cylindrical and conical shank-type cutters and drills, for example.
Resolution in all linear axes is 0.2 micron and in the rotational axis it is 0.0025 deg.
Repeat accuracy on diameter and length measurements is +/-2 microns.
Talbot adds that the installation of the Heli Toolcheck is considered critical in the quest for continuous and guaranteed high-quality product supply.
"Now we have been using the machine for a while, we wondered how we ever managed before," he states.
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