Keywords
Citation
(2000), "Flexible grinding centre", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 72 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2000.12772dab.002
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited
Flexible grinding centre
Flexible grinding centre
Keywords: Bridgeport Machines, Grinding
Bridgeport Machines' entry into the realms of grinding technology was signalled by the first general public demonstration at the recent MACH 2000 of its new "Viper" flexible grinding centre (Plates 2 and 3). The new machine, built at the company's Forest Road, Leicester, factory, is a full five-axis machine with a difference. A 30-tool changer able to store 120mm-220mm diameter grinding wheels makes it possible to integrate grinding with milling techniques for total flexibility.
Plate 2The new
Bridgeport "Viper" VMC1000 flexible grinding centre
Plate 3 A
typical set-up on the Bridgeport "Viper" VMC1000 flexible grinding centre
The Viper is a production grinding centre which uses standard oxide-based grinding wheels to extremely good effect. Stock removal rates can, it is claimed, be up to eight times that of CBN wheel-equipped machines and it is especially economical when handling the high-nickel alloys used in gas turbine blade manufacture.
Bridgeport is, in fact, one of only three machine builders world-wide to have been licensed by the aerospace division of Rolls-Royce plc, after completion of a five-year development programme, to offer machines using this special purpose process for turbine blade production.
Details available from: Bridgeport Machines Ltd. Tel: +44 (0)116 2531122; Fax: +44 (0) 116 2539960.