At the Wroclaw, Poland plant of WHITE, a manufacturer of orbital motors and steering solutions, an S110 internal cylindrical grinding machine from Studer is contributing to higher levels of efficiency in production.

Says Paweł Soćko, senior process engineer at WHITE: “We opted for the S110 because it meets our high requirements in terms of performance and production quality. Thanks to our co-operation with Studer, we can grind components with the highest precision at comparatively low costs.”

At WHITE’s modern plant, which houses around 600 employees, several Studer machines are now in use alongside the new S110, as well as other machines from sister companies in the United Grinding Group. Before deciding on the S110 model, Studer had to determine WHITE’s component requirements, namely the internal grinding of hardened steel sleeves for hydraulic steering systems. It quickly became clear that the S110 was ideal for the component geometry and production requirements.

But that was just the beginning. The Studer team specially configured and adapted the S110 to allow optimal integration into WHITE’s production process.

This task fell within the remit of Cesare Mastroianni, who is responsible for project management at Studer’s internal grinding competence centre in Biel, Switzerland. He says: “The optimisation is based on the specifications, where we define all technical data, component geometry and operational plans.”

Thanks to the optimisation process, the S110 can grind around 350,000 high-quality sleeves per year at the plant in Wroclaw.

“We produce in high volume, which requires the best solutions in the world because we cannot afford any losses due to insufficient precision or fluctuating capacity,” emphasises Soćko. “The Studer S110 meets our requirements perfectly.”

More information www.studer.com

Since 2008, Lippstadt, Germany-based Thyssenkrupp Rothe Erde has received six Dörries Contumat vertical turning and grinding machines from Starrag. Satisfied with the results, this specialist in large-diameter anti-friction bearings for wind turbines has now ordered the same model again, but with modified and optimised features.

Without large-diameter anti-friction bearings and rings from Thyssenkrupp Rothe Erde, many wind turbines would not be turning. These parts see use in the drives of nine out of 10 wind turbine manufacturers worldwide. The finishing of the bearings takes place on seven Dörries Contumat vertical turning and grinding machines, the latest arrival being a larger Dörries Contumat VC 6300/500 MC F.

The portal of the machine is designed to be larger than currently required. Indeed, the newly installed base supports a base table which holds a magnetic chuck with a 5 m diameter. It is possible to extend the base table to 6 m using ring segments, which allows it to support an even larger magnetic chuck. Furthermore, Starrag has installed a new grinding support on the left with a centrally positioned motorised grinding spindle.

Feedback from operating personnel was the impetus for further improvements. For example, Starrag changed the dressing position to eliminate the previous bottleneck to the protective cover. Now, it is easy to dress grinding wheels of all types (on the left and right) up to a diameter of 650 mm.

“It’s a significantly optimised, universal dresser,” states Hubert Erz, senior consultant for sales in the renewables sector at Starrag. “Multiple dressing positions allow operators to adjust the dressing process precisely to the grinding operation.”

More information www.starrag.com

At last month’s AMB 2024 machine tool exhibition in Stuttgart, grinding machine specialist Klingelnberg presented its latest developments. The company’s stand featured a Höfler Speed Viper cylindrical gear grinding machine, a Höfler R 300 cylindrical gear roll testing machine and a Klingelnberg P 40precision measuring centre. 

Focusing on high-volume, large-scale grinding, the HöflerSpeed Viper is available in three models to suit individual requirements: Speed Viper 300 in single-spindle configuration, and Speed Viper² 180 and 80 in dual-spindle configuration. The latter ensures minimal non-productive time, fulfilling productivity requirements of the automotive industry. 

With a partial or full automation system, Speed Viper can also feature an automation interface that meets the VDMA 34180 standard. ‘Gear Operator’ machine software and a process-oriented navigation system via wizard technology make operation easy, even in complex applications. And last but not least, ultra-modern drive and control technology maximises energy efficiency.

The metrology on the Höfler R 300 provides a reliable way to determine the root causes of gearbox noise. Due to the short measuring time, it can easily integrate into any manufacturing process and enable 100% quality control of gears. The R 300 is designed for all-roll testing processes that are relevant for evaluating the running behaviour and noise behaviour of gears. These include the single-flank test, structure-borne noise test and torsional acceleration test. 

Klingelnberg also presented its tried-and-tested P 40 with advanced hybrid metrology, a combination of tactile and optical metrology. Using optical sensor technology developed specifically for gear measurement, it is now possible to measure not only pitch, but also waviness on the tooth flanks. 

Machine from Klingelnberg are available in the UK from Micronz.

More information www.micronz.co.uk

Anca, a specialist in CNC grinding machines that is this year celebrating 50 years of innovation, and Tetralytix, a developer of simulation software for metal-cutting technology, have commenced a strategic collaboration in the field of virtual design for cutting tools.The
collaboration integrates Anca’s expertise in the virtual modelling of tool geometries and CIM3D tool verification software with Tetralytix’s expertise in technological analysis through Toolyzer, a simulation tool for designing and optimising cutting tools. An interface between CIM3D and Toolyzer will enable faster and more cost effective cutting tooldevelopment.

“Anca welcomes this partnership as it signals our commitment to empowering customers with the most advanced and powerful software tools available,” states Martin Ripple, CEO at Anca.“By working together, we’re ensuring that cutting tool manufacturers have everything they need to innovate, optimise and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.”

Dr Arne Mücke, managing director at Tetralytix, adds: “The partnership with Anca is a significant step towards creating added value and competitive advantages for our customers. The co-operation will make the benefits of digital cutting tool development visible in an unprecedented way.”
 

Says Santosh Plakkat, product manager at Anca: “We understand the constant challenges for tool designers in achieving longer tool life and the demands to cut newer materials. With this partnership, our customers can seamlessly design a tool and access cutting analyses, even before the first test cut. When Anca first introduced CIM3D, customers couldn’t believe the sophistication of the solution, and this is now the next step in reducing tool development time and cost.”

More information www.anca.com