Grinding Journal - Fall 2007 - (Page 11)

risked losing an important order. But after this incident, the tool manufacturer invested in a tool inspection machine and SPC software. They networked both systems so that the slightest problems on any of their tool grinders will be reflected in the tool measurements Some tool and shown in the manufacturers SPC software. include an Now most inspection problems due to report along The Walter Helicheck is repeatable under one micron and (unlike manual operators) isn't swayed by machine wear with their tools. knowing the nominal value. It also prints out a certified inspection report. can be predicted This avoids any and fixed before a failure. In-process inspection and misunderstanding and builds trust. And it’s easy monitoring also helps eliminate scrap. with a Walter Helicheck, because the machine can automatically print certified reports. By the same “Measuring” can also mean token, end users should seriously consider either “diagnosing problems” accepting only certified tools or inspecting the tools they purchase. In another example, a world-wide automotive parts trouble, placing their production at risk. Needless to say the tool manufacturer was also at risk of losing a big account. The entire problem would have been avoided if the tool manufacturer had measured the tools properly before shipping them. Predictability is the key to smooth production A measuring machine can also contribute to Statistical Process Control (SPC), no less for a tool manufacturer than an end user. For example, another unnamed tool manufacturer lost a grinder due to a worn part during a particularly busy time of year. Besides the expense and hassle of an emergency overnight repair, he also A measuring machine can eliminate the "chasing your tail" syndrome, in which you keep changing a design because you're not getting the result you expect but you never confirm that the part meets the spec in the first place because you can't measure it. supplier designed a new cutting tool to improve production of a certain part. They then had the tool made by one of their suppliers. But the cutting tool didn’t live up to their expectations, so they changed the design. However, this also didn’t produce the desired results. With time running out and project costs soaring, it occurred to them that perhaps the tool wasn’t being made according to the specs. Neither they nor their supplier had inspection equipment with the capability to check the tools. They were chasing their tail! A measuring machine capable of measuring unique geometries is essential for avoiding such situations. New geometries and tighter tolerances driving need for better inspection The demand for higher performance has driven tool design into strange new worlds: micro tools; tolerances in the microns; tools with helixes that vary from front to back, or helixes that differ from flute to flute; tools Grinding Journal 11

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Grinding Journal - Fall 2007

Grinding Journal - Fall 2007 Contents From Virginia: Apparently no credit crunch for machine tools Why measure cutting tools Other perspectives on CNC tool measuring Productive grinding of superalloys SUPER service grinding BIG rolls Problem Solver

Grinding Journal - Fall 2007

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