The ShapeSmart NP5 precision grinding machine from Rollomatic has already proven itself in the market as a multi-talented resource for grinding cylindrical workpieces. Now, the Swiss grinding machine manufacturer has outfitted its already popular cylindrical grinding machine with thread-grinding functions as well.

The demands made of tool manufactures today are high: Ever greater levels of flexibility are required in response to varying batch sizes and continued price-pressure demands increasingly efficient production methods. Extremely precise, high-quality blanks for round tools are required in order to rise to this challenge.

"After all, the qualities of tools and blanks are very closely linked," declares Jean-Charles Marty, Product Manager at Rollomatic SA. "Modern, flexible cylindrical grinding machines are required in order to manufacture the blanks."

The ShapeSmart NP5 is a 5-axis precision grinding machine with a grinding range of 0.025 to 25mm in diameter. Not only does it manufacture high-quality tool blanks, it is also suitable for producing ejector pins, stamping and forming tools, press needles and other components with a complex length/diameter ratio.

The machine features a 3-axis robot loader that handles up to 1,000 workpieces in a batch without any operator intervention. "The unique selling point of our ShapeSmart NP5 is the function patented by us for completing rough and finish grinding in a single step," explains Jean-Charles Marty.

The evolution from machining of tool blanks to production of boring bars continues to expand the ShapeSmart NP5's range of applications. Now, with a flipper and the CCD camera option, the shank chamfer and coolant-hole slots, as well as the pre-shaped points on drill blanks, can actually be ground in a single step. And Rollomatic continues to expand the machine's ability: The multi-function grinding machine now also grinds threads into the blank material, for exchangeable tool heads, for example.

"The threading and finishing grinding wheels are mounted on the same wheel arbors in such a way that the ShapeSmart NP5 can complete thread grinding and finishing in a single step," says Jean-Charles Marty.

Rollomatic technology has been tested and has proven its value over many years. As such, it ensures outstanding performance. Whether handling hard metal or HSS, the grinding wheels achieve not only ultra-low tolerances of 1 µm but also such a high material removal rate that there is absolutely no more retooling or realignment required and the machining time is significantly reduced compared to conventional grinding machines.

The Fanuc 32iA machine control unit with a 15-inch display and integrated PC guarantees both a high level of user-friendliness as well as safety. Jean-Charles Marty states that: "We have expanded our ShapeSmart NP5's range of functions and adapted the programming software for the new thread grinding option, but nothing has changed in terms of the grinding machine's outstanding user-friendliness."