Tooling & Production - May/June 2009 - (Page 10)
cover story • centerless grinding On target For a new generation of parts, automated centerless profile grinding fills the bill — with up to 3-fold increase in production producer of ceramic components, saw a threefold production increase in one job. Both give credit to the TT-8500 Centerless Profile Grinder from Tru Tech Systems of Mount Clemens, MI. In developing a modern automated approach to centerless grinding, Tru Tech augmented existing technology with customer-sensitive features as the basis for a fully automated system for high performance grinding. Before “unmanned machining” became an industrial byword, highvolume manufacturers in the appliance and electrical motor industry had applied mechanical automation, such as inclined plane loaders, to centerless grinders. But today’s parts have changed in many ways including configuration, material, finish, and quantity produced. Complex shapes in new alloys and non-traditional materials require step grinding, profiling, and more exacting tolerances. Multiple runs demand shorter setup times and ease of programming. “We knew from the start that flexibility was key,” said Tom Lebel, Tru Tech product manager. “Because of our experience in working with complex high-precision applications, we understood that customers would be running multiple parts and sizes and that ease of setup would be critical.” The Tru Tech unit selected for full automation was the TT-8500. Capable of accommodating parts of up to The grinding operation on the Tru Tech TT 8500 saves time and money for Ostrem 7.5" long, and up to 3" in diameter in Tool Co. conventional applications, the grinder enced outstanding savings due to the grinder’s utilizes an 8" standard wheel powered by a 2hp automated profiling capability. drive (3hp optional). CeramTec North America of Laurens, SC, a Input increment is 0.000010" with accurawo Southern manufacturers are reaping the benefits of automated centerless grinding that range from time and money savings to a 300 percent improvement in production. Ostrem Tool Co. of Lyman, SC, a manufacturer of customized carbide tooling, experiMay/June 2009 www.ToolingAndProduction.com T 10
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