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Beginning with the full 330mm bar stock material loading into the collet; the blank and tool geometry is ground, including any features (such as rear chamfer, for example), before the finished tool is cut off. The tool is then removed by the robot and loaded into the finished pallet. This program continues along the remaining bar stock until all useful raw material is consumed. To complete the automation process, waste is handled by the cell, before new bar stock is loaded into the collet.

ANCA’s TX machine platform is the solution for blanket grinding

ANCA’s machine platforms with the addition of a robot cell, can be utilized to implement the blanket grinding process. Tool size and application will determine which machine is right for you.

The two main features offered by the TX, beneficial in performing the blanket grinding function are the large working envelope and the high torque spindle. These attributes not only allow work on longer bar lengths, but also enable production of a larger range of tool sizes and geometries without limitation, including tools which require a high material removal.

The TX platform also fits any of ANCA’s robot cell solutions, including RoboMate, and the dedicated TXcell offering, which offers large format cell automation, many standard options and the flexibility for automated custom solution.

The nimble RoboMate cell is offered on both TX and MX platforms and offers customers a low barrier to entry for blanket grinding and production automation.

How blanket grinding can help you

Customers are increasingly demanding products that are more unique and with higher complexity – but more importantly, with immediate response and shorter delivery time; when meeting these expectations, costs take a back seat, while focus is on delivery.

Using ANCA’s robot automation solutions in blanket grinding enables you to realize these demands with minimal disruption to existing production lines, less planning, reduced manual handling and increased utilization and efficiencies. These benefits can compound to deliver an overall value proposition and increased return per tool.

Blanket grinding may also offer a reduction in floor space by removing separate machines and consolidating processes into a single footprint to produce the same tool. The process consolidation allows changes in parts and features to be easily handled. For example, grinding of shank features (Weldon flats or coolant slots) and the handling of very small parts can be made simpler by adding many features in a single setup.

Benefit from blanket grinding

Become more agile

You can provide a quick response to customer requests without the need for re-tooling or disruption to high volume production lines, while also guaranteeing highest quality across the batch.

• Eliminates need for re-tooling
• Reduced setup times
• Quick response without disruption, allowing further utilization of more specialized machinery
• Improved quality
• Ability to easily add special shank features in single setup, e.g. coolant slots, Weldon flats, and more

Reduce costs

Applying blanket grinding will go a long way to improving cost recovery, through increased utilization and efficiencies as well as removal of manual labor and setup times. There is also a benefit in reduced footprint through process consolidation into a single machine.

Blanket grinding can reduce costs through:

• Machine utilization
• Reduced stock waiting in process
• Minimal manual handling
• Reduced tooling and setup; single machine setup, not multiple stations
• No process interruption

Reduce lead times

• Eliminate setup times
• Eliminate tooling across multiple machines
• Variations of the similar profile/geometry can be produced uninterrupted
• Enables automation and “lights out” production

For further information, please contact:

Amanda Bakun
Marketing & Communications Manager – Americas
248-497-1168
amanda.bakun@anca.com

ANCA is a market leading manufacturer of CNC grinding machines. It was founded in 1974 in Melbourne, Australia where the company still has its global headquarters. ANCA has offices in the UK, Germany, China, Thailand, India, Japan, Brazil and the USA as well as a comprehensive network of representatives and agents worldwide.

ANCA CNC grinders are used for manufacturing precision cutting tools and components across a diverse range of competitive industries including cutting tool manufacture, automotive, aerospace, electronics and medical.