In today's machining industries, complex, precision tools are required to achieve top-level performance for daily operations. These drilling and milling tools, with diameters down to 0.1mm, must be manufactured using innovative grinding machines. Rollomatic has extended its product portfolio to include a 6-axis grinding wheel or other abrasive tool for the purpose of removing metal and finishing workpieces to close tolerances. Provides smooth, square, parallel and accurate workpi…" title="Powers a grinding wheel or other abrasive tool for the purpose of removing metal and finishing workpieces to close tolerances. Provides smooth, square, parallel and accurate workpi…" aria-label="Glossary: grinding machine">grinding machine that, thanks to an integrated grinding wheel changer, is not only ultra-precise, but also works quickly, efficiently and autonomously.

Grinding high-performance tools requires a high-performance machine capable of translating carefully constructed CAD data into highly precise and effective cutting geometry on the finished tool. For many years, Rollomatic has been a leading manufacturer of proven grinding machines which are highly regarded in the industry for this very reason.

Jean-Charles Marty, Product Manager at Rollomatic SA: "Our new GrindSmart 628XW was received with great interest during its premiere at the EMO 2011. It is based on the GrindSmart 628XS, a 6-axis grinding machine for cutting tools of 0.1 to 16mm. But we have added another special function: The new design now includes a SmartChanger change unit for up to six grinding wheel sets, which offers even more flexibility in the design of complex special geometries."

When changing the grinding wheel arbor, the machine also changes the associated coolant nozzles, ensuring optimal cooling at the grinding point during all operations. In an effort to achieve maximum autonomy in production, the wheel changer in the GrindSmart 628XW can accommodate two identical wheel packs. This allows large production runs to be ground reliably without the operator having to intervene for wheel wear. While the wheel pack is being unloaded, the workpiece loader changes the finished tools.

"This minimizes the changeover time, increasing the productivity of the machine even further--just like a seamless pit stop in Formula 1!" says Jean-Charles Marty by way of comparison. The GrindSmart 628XW has been equipped with a new highly efficient synchronous spindle motor that offers 14 kW of power and up to 23 Nm of torque. "We have also redesigned the wheel flange, which is fully compatible with HSK50 hollow shaft cones. A special indexing system ensures that the grinding wheel pack is always mounted in exactly the same position. With this combination, the user achieves concentricity of less than 0.002mm every time the grinding wheel is changed", adds Jean-Charles Marty. To offer optimum compatibility with common clamping systems, Rollomatic has fitted the new grinding machine with a universal workhead, which allows clamping systems from Nann and Schaublin to be used as well. In addition to the increased motor output, the grinding range has also been expanded to 20mm in diameter.

Jean-Charles Marty: "Despite all the innovations our engineers have packed into it, the GrindSmart 628XW retains its compact structure and requires no additional floor space!"