INTERNATIONAL NEWS

New era in performance and flexibility for QC

Zeiss has launched its Spectrum family of CMMs, which the company says is engineered to deliver stability and flexibility at an attractive price-performance ratio. According to Zeiss, Spectrum is set to transform quality control processes across various industries, including automotive and general machinery.

Zeiss Spectrum CMMs combine both tactile and optical scanning capabilities, featuring the Vast XXT TL3 compact design sensor that enhances available measuring volume, as well as the LineScan One laser scanner for high-speed optical measurements. By offering seamless integration of these technologies, Zeiss Spectrum empowers businesses to perform comprehensive inspections with a single machine, improving productivity and precision.

Available in four sizes, Zeiss Spectrum delivers adaptability for measuring a range of parts and geometries. The RDS probe carrier for Spectrum Verity enables flexible angle positioning, with up to 20,736 possible positions, allowing for accurate and versatile measurement configurations. The system’s glass ceramic scales have near-zero thermal expansion, which minimises temperature-based errors and ensures stability over time.

For delicate and flexible parts, Zeiss Spectrum offers the SoftTouch Mode sensor option, incorporating the Vast XXT TL1 sensor. This feature enables precise and rapid results, with the potential to reduce measurement cycle times by up to 40%.

The compact footprint of sensor option also allows for optimised lab space utilisation without compromising measurement volume, making it ideal for workshops of any size. Furthermore, the newly integrated LineScan One allows optical scanning with high speed in a single set-up, enabling users to capture complex geometries and surface details with minimal effort.

“We’re excited to introduce the sensor option to the market,” states Andrzej Grzesiak, head of the multisensory CMMs business unit at Zeiss. “This product provides our customers with the precision and flexibility they need while maintaining a focus on affordability and efficiency.”

More information www.zeiss.com

Verisurf agrees to Sandvik acquisition

US-based Verisurf, a specialist in model-based inspection and measurement software, has
signed an agreement to be acquired by Sandvik, a global high-tech engineering group
headquartered in Sweden. Verisurf will operate as a separate business unit within Sandvik
Manufacturing and Machining Solutions, complementing and enhancing Sandvik’s position
in industrial metrology. The acquisition is expected to close in Q2 2025. Verisurf’s founder
and president, Ernie Husted, will continue to lead the company, ensuring a smooth
transition while maintaining its core mission and vision.
More information www.verisurf.com

Gleason celebrates 160 years

This year marks an important milestone as Gleason Corporation celebrates its 160 th
anniversary. Founded in 1865 by William Gleason, the company has transformed from a
small workshop to a global specialist in gear technology, offering solutions that encompass
design software, manufacturing and metrology equipment, tooling, aftermarket services,
and an extensive training programme.
Over the years, Gleason has expanded its reach and capabilities through the strategic
acquisitions of Hurth Maschinen und Werkzeuge in Munich, the Hermann Pfauter Group in
Ludwigsburg, Germany, and adding metrology systems, automation solutions and plastic
gears to its product range. In 2017, Gleason acquired Swiss KISSsoft AG, integrating gear
design and simulation software into its portfolio.
More information www.gleason.com

Diamond mine shaft guides

The Special Profiles team at British Steel’s Skinningrove site has secured a contract to supply 768 tonnes of unique top hat profile to the Karowe diamond mine in Botswana – the world’s biggest diamond-producing country. Although the mine is currently operating as an open pit facility, underground operations are scheduled to commence early in 2028 to reach a planned depth of 767 m. To facilitate the underground mining, the production shaft will be fitted with top hat shaft guides. British Steel says it is the only global supplier of the unique top hat shaft guides. It will ship the material in four deliveries.

More information www.britishsteel.co.uk

User-oriented hard turning and grinding

The highest precision is achieved through the optimal interaction of machine, tool and machining process. Japanese-Swiss company Big Kaiser therefore relies on the combination of hard turning and grinding on a Super Precision T51 SP MSY machine when manufacturing its high-precision tool holders in Rümlang near Zurich.

The list of machine manufacturers that produce high-precision hard turning machines is not long. One of the most prominent companies in this field was machine manufacturer Hardinge, which developed the Super Precision series. This series is now part of the portfolio of Kellenberger Switzerland AG.

Thanks to their rigidity and stability, the CNC high-precision lathes in the Super Precision series are suitable for hard turning as well as for combined hard turning and grinding operations in the production of complex workpieces in a single set-up. Measurement reports certify that the T series has a continuous machine accuracy of 3 µm, workpiece roundness of 0.25 µm (T42) and 0.70 µm (T65), a repeat accuracy (on all axes) of 0.76 µm, and an achievable surface finish of better than Ra 0.15 µm or Rz1.

“Of all the machine manufacturers we approached, only Hardinge guaranteed us process reliability,” says Big Kaiser’s head of supply chain Marcel Stettler. “That was courageous and ultimately convinced us.”

The new T51 SP MSY was ordered in December 2018 and delivered in summer 2019. A robot handling system for fully automated production was subsequently installed in October 2020.

For the combined turning/milling and grinding operations required for the complete machining of HSK tool holders, the T51 SP MSY machine features a grinding unit with driven tools developed for Big Kaiser, which has an inclined position. This inclined position is of decisive importance for the finish grinding of taper and shoulder features.

More information www.kellenberger.com