millGrind is a hybrid machine for additive machining. It combines grinding, milling and the option of laser deposition welding in a single machine, saving not only equipment costs, but also valuable changing and retooling time. The optional laser head can also be conveniently exchanged into the machine via a toolchanger in order to realize the functions of laser hardening, marking and additive material deposition welding.

"Our hybrid machine has been on the market for one year now and has already achieved very good results with customers in terms of additive manufacturing support," says Dr. Markus Stanik, managing director of Elb-Schliff Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH.

The experts from Elb-Schliff see the machine being used primarily in the aerospace and supplier industry as well as for tool and mold making, where specific components are pre-machined in a first step and then ground. Dr. Stanik is familiar with the advantages the process offers: "Laser deposition welding is a very accurate and quick method for
metal welding and thus, of course, particularly suitable for precision components in aircraft manufacturing. The two manufacturing processes thus perfectly complement each other on a hybrid CNC machine."

Grinding is particularly economical where difficult materials such as those containing nickel and its superalloys must be machined. millGrind uses conventional abrasives with superabrasive capabilities; the XYZ resolution is 0.1 micron. "Hybrid machining helps us boost additive manufacturing to a new level of precision," says the Elb-Schliff managing
director.