Chevalier Machinery Inc.'s column type, high-precision, 3-axis surface grinder series includes a new PLC controller that provides grind cycles for rough grinding, fine grinding, spark-out passes and an optional automatic over-wheel dresser with compensation to fully automate the grind process.

After the cycle is finished, the table will "park" either left or right and the saddle will move all the way forward to facilitate unloading and loading. The spindle can be set to "stop running" or "continue running." The wheel head can also be set to return to the start position or to park at a reference point. Once the cycle is started, the wheel head will move rapidly to the start point and repeat the grind cycle. If material is required to be removed from both sides, "flip over" can be selected so that the wheel head position is at the finish grind height, which will start grinding immediately without touching off.

The fully automatic grind feature consists of rough- and fine-grinding cycles, switching from rough grinding down-feed increments to fine-grinding down-feed increments at preset points during the cycle. This crossfeed also switches from a rough to fine cross-feed increment, which results in a finer surface finish and finer accuracy.

Once the total preset depth is reached, which is displayed on the elevating digital read-out, the machine performs the preset spark-out passes. The control will automatically dress the grinding wheel and compensate the dress amount during the grind cycle, enabling the machine to run unattended if the optional automatic parallel over the wheel dresser is purchased.

The series features a new user-friendly touch-screen control that has standard surface grinding programs and a plunge grinding cycle. There is also an optional crisscross, or zigzag, and a CBN dressing cycle. So simple and user-friendly, all skill levels can operate this series of ADIII controllers.

For more information, contact Johnson Lan of Chevalier Machinery Inc. by phone at (562) 903-1929, by email at [email protected] or through the Web at www.chevalierusa.com.