Trio of tool grinding and inspection machines

Citation

(2007), "Trio of tool grinding and inspection machines", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 79 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2007.12779bab.003

Trio of tool grinding and inspection machines

Trio of tool grinding and inspection machines

The trio of new Walter Helitronic tool grinding and Helicheck tool inspection machines announced by Korber Schleifring UK of Honiley near Kenilworth, UK, not only reinforces Walter's position as a major company in the tool grinding and inspection field, but also the developments also address user demands both for entry- level tool grinding and inspection equipment plus a machine specifically to grind micro tools. The new machines are:

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  The Helitronic Basic – a budget- priced five-axis tool grinder;

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  The Helitronic Micro – for the consistent production of tools of 0.1-12.7mm diameter; and

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  The Helicheck Basic – an entry- level, high-accuracy tool measurement machine.

The new machines are based on similar high-quality construction principles to Walter's existing models and, likewise, also incorporate the company's tool grinding software. But importantly, the new machines feature CMC and drive hardware from Fanuc – “ultra-reliable and globally standardised technology” says Neil Whittingham, sales director of Korber Schleifring UK.

A derivative of the Helitronic Power, the new Helitronic Basic tool grinder claims an unrivalled route for cost- effective tool regrinding. With Fanuc 310i CMC and 15in. touch screen monitor, the machine features a 70mm grinding spindle powered by 7kW drive plus worm gear drive in the A axis.

As standard it is supplied with Walter Window Mode P1 and P3 grinding programs (end mills and drills), and options include coolant tank, Eco tool loading system, automatic clamping and worktable.

The new six-axis Helitronic Micro, on the other hand, has been developed from a clean sheet and is designed to meet the increasing production demands by, for example, the medical and electronics sectors of micro tools of 0.1-12.7mm diameter (Figure 5). Tools from 2 to 12.7mm diameter can be reground.

Figure 5 Walter's new Helitronic Micro tool grinder- for producing tools of 0.1-12.7mm diameter

Featuring an HSK 40, 5kW spindle and utilising Fanuc 310i CMC that incorporates Walter's “what you see is what you grind” Helitronic Tool Studio software, the machine's double-ended grinding head (optionally three-spindle, with one 5kW and two 1.5kW drives) has integrated cooling that combines with linear drives and torque motor (with integral cooling) and the machine's mineral cast base is said to help generate high precision, excellent surface finishes and longer wheel life.

An integrated Fanuc robot (double gripper) loading system also features, for fast – less than 10s – tool change, in conjunction with the four-pallet Pallet load system. This provides unmanned working of up to 300 tools per pallet – three pallets for unground tools; one pallet “empty” for ground tools – of tools from 1 to 6.9mm shank diameter and 120mm long. Larger tools of 7-12.7mm shank diameter and 120mm long can be handled at 108 tools per pallet.

An optional, additional manual X-axis is available to reduce grinding traverses, where appropriate.

The new Helicheck Basic tool inspection machine occupies 30 per cent less floorspace than the Toolcheck it replaces (by adopting vertical design principles rather than horizontal) and, like its stablemates the Helicheck and Helicheck Pro, it offers 3C Direct View camera technology with cameras for back, front and top light illumination.

The back light provides magnification of 50×, front and top of 100×; and combined with the solid granite base plate for temperature resistance and high stability, the result is a repeatability of 1.5mm and an absolute accuracy of ±2.2mm at a measuring length of 10mm (VDI/VDE 2617: E1=2.2mm+L/300).

These new machines are complemented by a new grinding wheel/electrode wheel changer for the Helitronic Power Diamond two-in-one machine for grinding/eroding PCD tools – where up to eight electrodes/ wheel sets, with coolant distributor, can be changed in ten sees – and follow hard on the heels of recently-announced the Helicheck Plus tool inspection machine for measuring standard and micro tools down to 0.1mm diameter.

Details available from: Korber Schleifring UK, Tel.:+44 (0)1926485047, e-mail: neil.whittingham@walter-machines.de; web site: www.walter-machines.com