In 2019 Accretech acquired the SBS Balancer Product Range. In the two years since, the synergy between the brands has resulted a range of benefits to global manufacturers, not least in the area of grinding.

Alongside many other machine tool and inspection applications, Accretech provides high-precision in-process gauging that delivers real-time measurement during grinding cycles. SBS is a specialist in the field of grinding wheel balancing and grinding process monitoring. Both Accretech and SBS products are available as OEM equipment on new grinders or as retrofit solutions to existing machines.

A prime example of a precision grinding company that relies on both Accretech and SBS products is Tamworth-based SWD Precision.

Having recently ordered a universal grinder from Timeline Machine Tools, managing director Stephen Drew travelled to central China to observe the production and assembly of his new machine and pass it off. Although the universal grinder featured an Accretech in-process gauging system, to further expand the machine’s capabilities, the decision was made to retrofit an SBS balancing system.

In consultation with Accretech UK it was decided that an SBS non-contact, automatic balancing system, consisting of an SB-5500 controller, an external balance head and an acoustic emission monitoring system card, would constitute the ideal solution. The compact SB-5500 controller features an all-digital electronic design and has a large, high-resolution detachable display.

Pointing out the benefits, Drew says: “We produce precision ground components for motorsport and other equally demanding sectors involving short production runs. It therefore helps that, in addition to increasing our grinding throughput and saving set-up time, our new SBS balancing system is ensuring part quality by automatically balancing our grinding process to an accuracy of 0.02 µm.”

For further information
www.accretech.eu

The Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC) will be the first service provider in the UK to take delivery of DyeMansion’s Powerfuse S – a state-of-the-art, eco-friendly industrial vapour polishing system. Integral to the DMC’s polymer part finishing, the system was acquired through Laser Lines, DyeMansion’s UK reseller.

With its capabilities, the Powerfuse S will significantly improve the DMC’s polymer surface finishing, delivering sealed and washable parts with injection moulding-like surfaces. As one of the first facilities to adopt this system, DMC engineers will be working closely with DyeMansion to maximise its potential and investigate new materials and applications.

DyeMansion’s VaporFuse Surfacing (VFS) minimises surface roughness by flooding the machine’s entire vacuum chamber with vapour. The result is a highly reproducible process that works for complex geometries and internal surfaces on all common plastics.

The system uses DyeMansion’s bespoke VaporFuse Eco Fluid – an environmentally-friendly solvent – to process plastics in accordance with food contact regulation (EU) 10/2011. Circulated continuously and recovered by the system, the fluid allows the Powerfuse S to operate in a closed loop as a contact-free process without chemical waste or the requirement for users to wear protective equipment.

Aligning closely with the DMC’s vision of a connected, Industry 4.0-ready AM production facility, the Powerfuse S offers fully automatic loading, connectivity and batch tracking. Specialised programs have been developed and validated for all common materials to make the Powerfuse S ‘plug and play’, while all process parameters can be tailored to suit additional materials.

With the addition of the Powerfuse S, the DMC has also become the first AM production facility to utilise DyeMansion’s complete reference architecture.

For further information
www.digitalmanufacturingcentre.com

Right from the very beginning, a positive mood prevailed at DeburringEXPO, which was held as an on-site trade fair during October. Most of the circa 1100 expert visitors came to the Karlsruhe Exhibition Centre in Germany with concrete tasks and a great need for information. This resulted in excellent contacts, valuable RFQs and interesting projects for almost all of the 105 exhibiting companies.

Around 50% of the visitors took advantage of the opportunity to gather information about current trends, the latest developments and best-practice solutions in the fields of deburring and the production of precision finishes. Some 94% of the exhibitors expect very good to satisfactory post-fair business.

Almost 80% of the exhibiting companies presented new and recent developments at DeburringEXPO. The results of the post-event survey substantiate the fact that this trade fair for deburring technologies and precision surface finishing also satisfied the expectations of visitors: more than 82% said they were very satisfied to satisfied with the offerings. In addition, more than 75% of visitors would recommend the exhibition and its associated programme of technology forums to colleagues and business partners.

The simultaneously interpreted (German <> English) presentations held at the expert forum on various topics related to deburring and surface finishing met with great interest. In total, 504 participants took advantage of the opportunity to enhance their knowledge. For roughly 25% of participants, the forum programme was the determining factor in deciding on which of the three days they visited the trade fair.

The next DeburringEXPO will take place at the Karlsruhe Exhibition Centre on 10-12 October 2023. More than 50% of the exhibiting companies confirmed spontaneously that they would participate.

For further information
www.deburring-expo.com

Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) has recently installed its second Rollomatic Nano6 grinding centre. The Tamworth-based cutting tool specialist now has the first two Rollomatic Nano6 grinding centres in the UK.

ITC’s second Nano6 machine investment is capable of producing cutting tools as small as 0.05 mm diameter thanks to its hydrostatic guideways. The company’s prior investment in a centralised coolant system for all its grinding centres, which maintains coolant temperature to ±0.2°C, emphasises the quality control that the company maintains for its cutting tools. The purchase stems from ITC’s communication and commitment to its customer base that has seen the demand and, subsequently, the expansion of the company’s standard cutting tool ranges down to 1 mm diameter.

ITC’s production manager Kevin Ford says: “The new machine will be used alongside the first Nano6 for producing small tools up to 2 mm diameter. Both machines will complement the Rollomatic 620 and 629 machines that we have for manufacturing tools up to 6 mm diameter. The first Nano6 machine enabled us to produce a range of small tools, both standard and customer specials. It also gave us the facility to extend the range of existing standard tool ranges downward to 1 mm. The second machine gives us extra capacity but also peace of mind regarding security of supply. Even though the entire range of Rollomatic machines is extremely reliable, we wanted to eliminate any possible supply chain vulnerabilities from only having one machine.”

With industry-wide concerns over supply chain continuity and extended lead times for products manufactured overseas, something compounded by both Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic – ITC has UK stock available for immediate delivery.

For further information
www.itc-ltd.co.uk

Superabrasive specialist Engis is releasing its EVG series of high-precision vertical grinding machines for the production of ultra-smooth surfaces. These machines can grind advanced materials to a high degree of precision in flatness and surface quality, greatly reducing or even eliminating the need for subsequent lapping.

Ideal applications for EVG series machines include semiconductor wafer grinding or back-thinning (SiC, GaAs, Sapphire, Si, GaN, AIN, InP), semiconductor equipment components, glass ceramic, as well as substrates for semiconductor packaging, including MEMS (ceramic, polyimide).

Engis EVG machines are available in three different models, the EVG-200, EVG-250 and EVG-300, all of which offer a PLC, 400 rpm work table speed and 2000 rpm max wheel speed.

Advanced machine control options are available, providing automated grinding wheel dressing, automated positioning of the grinding wheel relative to the workpiece and workpiece thickness measurement. For maximum control, an upgrade to in-process thickness measurement with feedback to the grinding cycle in real time is also available.

The most advanced model offers automated thickness options: multi-point contact probing for multiple wafer grinding or a choice of contact or non-contact continuous in-process measurement for single wafer machining.

EVG Series machines are equipped with Engis grinding wheels based on mixed abrasive diamond (MAD) wheel technology, which tailors the wheel to the material in cut. Engis specialist application engineers can provide specific process recommendations for particular materials and applications.

For further information
www.engis.com