ANCA has developed a high-performance Spindle Speed Increaser kit designed to elevate the capabilities of its FX, MX, and TX grinding machine platforms. The solution allows users to achieve wheel speeds of up to 50,000 rpm, making it suited to small diameter grinding wheels and specialised applications, such as PCD pocket grinding and internal diameter (ID) grinding.

Designed to operate seamlessly within the machine’s grinding spindle, the Spindle Speed Increaser kit enables users to access ultra-high spindle speeds without any special machine modifications. Importantly, it is fully compatible with ANCA’s automatic wheel pack changer, allowing it to sit alongside conventional grinding wheel packs for convenient, automated tool changes.

Suitable for grinding wheels under 10 mm in diameter, the kit opens new opportunities in high-precision grinding applications. Originally developed for the TX platform, the Spindle Speed Increaser is now also offered for FX and MX machines, providing broader access to its capabilities across ANCA’s customer base.

“The regular ANCA grinding spindle runs up to 10,000 rpm – perfect for most standard tool grinding operations using wheels above 75 mm in diameter,” explains Duncan Thompson, ANCA product manager. “However, customers have been asking for a solution to use smaller wheels. These wheels require significantly higher rpm to achieve the surface speeds necessary for optimal grinding, and the Spindle Speed Increaser provides an elegant solution to this challenge.”

At the heart of the Spindle Speed Increaser is a compact geared mechanism driven by the main spindle. This gearing increases output rpm by a factor of approximately seven, achieving speeds up to 50,000 rpm at the grinding wheel.
More information www.anca.com

The EURO 7 standard will immensely change the automotive industry: for the first time, not only emissions from combustion engines will be regulated, but also the abrasion of brakes, among other things. The initial conclusion is that the particulate matter produced by many models must be significantly reduced. As a result, OEMs and suppliers are looking for a new solution for the braking system, with coated brake discs currently proving to be the ideal solution for the task.

So how can the various coating systems be applied reliably and efficiently in the context of high-volume production? EMAG offers the answer to this question: a complete solution ready for series production for the coating of brake discs by laser deposition welding, which has already proven itself in production.

The ELC 450 LMD is a machine solution from EMAG that is characterised by its modularity and flexibility. The basic idea behind the ELC 450 LMD is the use of process modules that can be combined and expanded according to customer requirements. The basic version, the ELC 450 LMD, has one process module. The ELC 450 DUO LMD is equipped with two process modules, while the ELC 450 TRIO LMD, as the name suggests, uses three process modules.

These modular machine concepts make it possible to optimally meet customer requirements in terms of shift structure and productivity. This then determines the choice of machine configuration. The ELC 450 LMD can realize both one-shift and two-shift systems. The combination of laser power and application rate determines the most suitable machine concept for the respective application.

More information www.emag.com

UK-based PTG Holroyd Precision is to supply one of its ultra-precise Zenith 400 helical profile grinding machines to a Chinese manufacturer of helical components. Developed to precision-grind components weighing up to 700 kg and measuring up to 420 mm in diameter, 2.2 m in length and with a maximum 100 mm profile depth, the Zenith 400 combines high stock removal rates with aggressive semi-finishing. It offers production rates and accuracies tailored to the most demanding of manufacturing strategies.

Scheduled for installation at the Chinese company’s Chongqing-based production facility this summer, the Zenith 400 is equipped with PTG Holroyd’s proprietary dual grinding wheel system. This capability will enable operators to use either a 500 mm vitrified, dressable aluminium oxide grinding wheel for exceptional versatility in production strategies and product development, or diamond-hard plated CBN roughing and finishing wheels for cost-effective volume production.

“With the advantage of two grinding wheels, our customer will be able to complete both rough-grinding and finish-grinding in one seamless operation,” says PTG Holroyd Precision’s sales director Mark Curran. “By using CBN grinding wheels for both grinding processes, they will benefit from significantly reduced cycle times and improved heat dissipation. Thanks to the greater resistance of CBN, the customer will also enjoy extended wheel life, with no need for dressing, even at high stock removal rates.”

He adds: “In addition to the Zenith 400’s well-proven capabilities, its dual grinding wheel capability was clearly a major attraction to the customer in view of the efficiencies this will bring to their production processes.”

More information www.holroyd.com

Mirka is expanding its product portfolio with the launch of the Mirka Cafro Ultra-Flute grinding wheel range for the precision grinding of solid-tungsten carbide tools. The new product line offers users a selection of durable and precise grinding wheels, engineered to withstand the demands of large-scale production runs.

Cafro Ultra-Flute is engineered as a single-piece construction and features an abrasive rim that has a porous structure that optimises the power transfer from the grinding machine to the material. This design ensures high stock removal rates in less time, which leads to an increase in the overall efficiency of the process, reports Mirka.

The product has been developed with durability at the forefront of the design process, highlighted by its edge retention that aids in the delivery of fast, efficient and consistent performance. Cafro Ultra-Flute grinding wheels also help increase productivity as there is less downtime due to the dressing intervals being longer.

The range also provides the user with a quiet operation, no vibrations when in use and stable power absorption for reduced energy consumption during the time it is working. Additionally, when paired with automatic tool loaders, it performs at an optimal level and leaves a consistently fine surface finish.

Kevin Jackson, business development manager – superabrasives and automation at Mirka UK, says: “With the launch of our Cafro Ultra-Flute, we’re providing tool manufacturers with a cutting-edge solution that enhances productivity and reduces costs. This new grinding wheel range also highlights our commitment to providing high-quality, performance-driven grinding solutions that will be an asset to the customer from the first use to the last.”

More information www.mirka.com