ANCA to celebrate anniversary and debut new technology at IMTS

At IMTS 2024, ANCA CNC Machines is celebrating its anniversary and showing new and upgraded technologies including its new high-precision tool grinder, the MicroX ULTRA, and the next generation of integrated manufacturing technology, AIMS Connect.  

ANCA is also celebrating its 50th anniversary in business (1974-2024) and the recent opening of its newest Tech Center in Temecula, California, to serve its fast-growing West Coast market base.  

Pat Boland, ANCA co-founder, said, "For 50 years, ANCA has been on a journey to change the shape of the cutting tool industry. To celebrate our 50th anniversary, we look forward to meeting with our customers and partners at IMTS. As innovation has motivated us throughout our history, new products and developments will be at the center of our celebrations. ANCA’s future is exciting, we are focused on continuing to invent and deliver groundbreaking technology to help take cutting tool production into areas not previously thought possible.”

Edmund Boland, ANCA CNC Machines General Manager, adds, "IMTS is the major global event in this milestone year for our company, so it's thrilling to showcase our latest products and technologies for high-performance cutting tools produced with optimized efficiency and cost. Building on ANCA’s heritage of producing industry-leading software, the latest release of our signature ToolRoom software, RN35, takes cycle time optimization even further, elevating productivity – it’s the future of tool production.”

“ToolRoom and AIMS really pave the way for highly productive, autonomous production. Our investment in AIMS for connected and automated processes is our commitment to solving key challenges such as labor shortages and consistent production processes with smart, future-ready solutions. Our ULTRA technology has made a splash in the market, and now enables micro tool production, regrinding and small batch production with the MicroX and FX7 ULTRA,” said Edmund.

50 years of innovation

ANCA started with a minicomputer and teletype installed at co-founder Pat Boland’s home, followed by a CNC and then the design and manufacture of machine tools with co-founder Pat McCluskey. Throughout the years, ANCA has brought significant advantages to the industry with pioneering innovations like the first touch probe, soft axes and 3D simulation.

Naturally, software and automation are key highlights of ANCA’s anniversary innovation portfolio. The latest version of ANCA's ToolRoom software, RN35, offers:

•    Average performance increase of up to 20% with advanced features and functions, optimizing feedrate, improving cycle time and surface finish, while extending wheel life.
•    New developments including the integration of material removal rate calculations, allowing manufacturers to automatically set parameters for constant removal rates, plus air-time reduction.
•    Statistical Process Control (SPC) software for statistical analysis and evaluation of manufactured part characteristics streamlines manufacturing processes.
•    Profile fluting further enhancing the popular flute from solid feature of the proprietary ANCA software.

Experts will present these and other upgrades to IMTS visitors, plus further exciting news in CIM3D simulation software.

The ANCA Automated Manufacturing System (AIMS) is a highly integrated, advanced automation system that brings together machining, metrology and materials handling plus data management in a leading-edge ecosystem for a lights-out production of tools used in myriad industries.

ANCA's AIMS (ANCA Integrated Manufacturing System) is the smart manufacturing solution for cutting tool production, enabling manufacturers to connect, automate and create like never before. The modular system comprises hardware and software components for automated, closed loop manufacturing. AIMS Server controls production processes and AutoComp, the intelligent compensation module maintains part quality automatically, while the new AIMS Connect function covers job management.

With AIMS Connect, recently debuted at GrindingHub in Germany, visitors can experience firsthand the power of digital production control and modular automation, now available for existing installations. The system has proven in the field that it empowers manufacturers to explore new opportunities, products and features while maximizing productivity and quality.
AIMS is growing in popularity, as it enables shops of all sizes plus huge production departments the flexibility to integrate machining, metrology and materials handling into a unified ecosystem with full data capture and management capabilities.  

Machines and technology for highest quality and lowest cost tools

ANCA’s GCX machine and gear tool technology is set to redefine the production of skiving cutters with a turnkey solution package. To address the complexity of gear tool manufacturing, this offering includes features for the design of gear cutting tools, manufacturing and integrated tool measurement, as well as providing the skiving machine setup parameters.

IMTS visitors will witness live how this configuration enables short setup times, simulation and monitoring, plus quality enhancing features like the ANCA Motor Temperature Control (MTC) and integrated balancing (iBalance) for unparalleled longtime grinding profile accuracy within +/-0.0015mm. This turnkey package facilitates easy entry into the gear tools sector while ensuring top-quality results.

ULTRA Technology

The ULTRA technology combines nanometer control, servo-controlled algorithms and mechanical stiffness upgrades to achieve unprecedented accuracy. The FX7 ULTRA and MicroX ULTRA demonstrate ANCA's commitment to precision, enabling continuous batch production down to 0.03mm and setting new standards in tool manufacturing. The MicroX ULTRA premiered at EMO 2023 and was released to the market at GrindingHub, giving micro tool manufacturers all the advantages of the ULTRA technology and ANCA’s Machine Intelligence in a unit tailored to this application. As the only micro tool grinder with nanometer control, optimized mechanical layout and axes travel, integrated tool measurement and progressive automation, this six-axis grinder is the ideal solution for volume production of tools down to 0.03mm.

Laser

The new EPX-SF stream finishing machine was released to the market at GrindingHub. ANCA’s advanced edge preparation and surface finishing solution addresses productivity targets, delivers superior IP cutting tool performance and succeeds in precision-critical industries – in a design that’s ready to be integrated in automated tool manufacturing systems. With 11-axis automation and smart recipe fine-tuning, the machine is engineered by tool experts to optimize media utilization while providing precise edge control. The machine has the capability to reduce edge roughness to under 100 nm and refine edge radii to mere microns with controllable K-factor, achieving nano-smooth surfaces and micron-honed edges in record time.

The EPX-SF’s cyclic mode with pulse rotation serves as a potent defense against surface burrs and edge imperfections. With adjustable positive and negative angles, the EPX-SF spindle traverses the optimal cutting path, optimizing potential chip flow and reducing the surface roughness of the cutting workpiece. Within ANCA’s automation ecosystem, the EPX-SF seamlessly integrates into production lines, operating autonomously with robotic assistance round the clock for tool loading/unloading.

The CPX blank preparation machine is a prime example of how to include the voice of the customer in product development. Tool manufacturers around the world were asked and given their ideal solution for blanks with high material removal rates, application flexibility and integrated quality control. With features like statistical process control and top surface finishes below 0.2Ra, manufacturers can achieve high productivity at minimal cost with the CPX Linear. Some further application capability will be introduced at IMTS.