Shop Profile: From pewter to ultraprecision CNC machine tools

Craftsman Jasper Röders set up shop during the early 1800s to make pewter tableware for his neighbors in Soltau, Germany. Six generations later, his descendants still produce pewter but have expanded into blow molds and CNC machine tools.

G.A. Röders GmbH & Co. KG’s RXP line of high-speed milling and grinding machines are available in North America from Roeders of America Inc., Valley Cottage, N.Y.

Roeders president, Victor Pfister, said the 3-, 4- and 5-axis machining centers can impart optical-quality finishes and achieve extreme accuracy. “The company has extensive experience in moldmaking and was unable to find machine tools that would do what we needed,” he said. “So around 25 years ago, we started building our own equipment. We use only linear-drive and direct-drive torque rotary motors, so there are no issues with wear components or backlash.”

Roeders machines offer spindle speeds up to 90,000 rpm and are capable of imparting surface finishes finer than 0.01μm R_a. This image shows the shop floor at injection mold manufacturer StackTeck, Brampton, Ontario, which has 11 Roeders machines and another on order. Image courtesy of Roeders of America.