Grinding (Surface, Cylindrical, Tool & Cutter)

Adding a CNC to a Blanchard grinder makes the machine easier to operate and maintain.

Grinding ceramics is unlike most other grinding operations. These superhard, brittle materials need a slow and steady hand.

Puzzled by the appearance of a choppy, spiral-shaped set of chatter marks showing up on a workpiece, a shop sought a diagnosis from Jeffrey Badger, Ph.D., who writes the Ask the Grinding Doc column in Cutting Tool Engineering.

Usually, a grinding process can be improved by simply picking the low-hanging fruit. Grinding wheel manufacturer Meister Abrasives USA Inc., North Kingstown, R.I., recommends trying that approach first by selecting a single variable and significantly changing it.

Christopher Hegarty was appointed ANCA Group CEO, succeeding Grant Anderson.

Since 1978, MIP has designed and manufactured high quality tools and aftermarket parts for high-performance RC race cars. In recent years, MIP saw demand for their products increase significantly, especially their world-renowned hex wrenches. MIP turned to Excalibur Tools and FANUC America to design and build an automated six-axis grinding center that resulted in a 300% increase in production.

To achieve the quality and productivity requirements for most precision grinding operations, it is necessary that the grinding wheel is trued and dressed prior to grinding and periodically during the grinding operation. The truing process is initially carried out to correct for any wheel runout, create the required profile on the wheel, and condition the grinding wheel face.

Once again, the International Manufacturing Technology Show is right around the corner. IMTS 2018 takes place Sept. 10-15 at Chicago's McCormick Place, which is literally just down the road from where I live.

OSHA 29 CFR SubPart O 1910.215 for bench grinders is one of the most frequently cited machine-safety standards for violations during OSHA inspections, and one of the most dangerous to ignore. OSHA 1910.215 is a "machine specific" (vertical) regulation with a number of requirements, which if left unchecked, are often cited by OSHA as violations.

Blanchard grinding has typically been a manual process for many shops. The simplicity of the dials and handwheels found on Blanchard grinders still work well and get the job done. However, there's an even easier way to run a Blanchard through the addition of a CNC.

The Grinding Doc examines the forces at work when cylindrical grinding produces round workpieces one minute, then something resembling a fried egg or a flower the next.

CTE Machinist's Corner Columnist Michael Deren bemoans industrial suppliers who don't care about their customers, or know how to treat their customers. This is not the '60s and '70s, when OEMs had a take-it-or-leave-it mentality.