Proflex CNC grinding machines are flexible
March 24th 2009
NL Machine Tool Consulting has unveiled the Proflex line of flexible CNC external and internal grinding machines.
Proflex is a grinding centre that can be customised on the basis of specific production needs and grinding applications.
Its flexibility is facilitated by a range of wheelhead configurations, which makes it possible to use multiple tools in different combinations.
Two, three or four conventional or high-speed CBN wheels can be mounted at the same time on integrated motor-spindle assemblies and used in successive grinding operations.
The machine has a range of accessories and custom features, and can be interfaced with a variety of automated workpiece-handling systems including gantries, integrated loaders and robots.
Proflex can be readily customised for any grinding application, thanks to a range of modern, ultra-dependable accessories and optional equipment.
A selection of workholding and clamping units for workhead and tailstock provides the right solution for all between-centres grinding processes - whether they involve live centres, dead centres or face drivers - and any kind of chucking operation.
Also available are steady-rests with open two-point or closed three-point configurations, with automatic engagement and self-centring diameter compensating capabilities.
Special workheads, including units with integrated motor-spindle assemblies, make it possible to grind non-round shapes such as regular polygons, cams and threads thanks to crossfeed C-axis design.
Wheel dressers featuring either single dresser centres or diamond dresser wheels may be incorporated in the workhead and tailstock, or installed on independent units that can be positioned on the stationary table.
Designing machines for operating flexibility also means guaranteeing fast retooling during type changes.
Thus, in-process gauging instruments such as axial positioners and diameter gauges are easy to reset during type changes, thanks to manually operated self-aligning devices or automatic supports with hydraulic positioning on pre-set stops.
In addition, ‘active’ axial positioning probes can be installed on the wheelhead.
Where ‘absolute’ diameter gauging is required along the entire grinding length, the Proflex range is designed for easy system integration with units featuring additional CNC-controlled axes.
Other modular design features include a choice of three CNC-controlled W-axis workpiece length compensation units providing different compensation strokes.
The Proflex line-up consists of three models - PROFLEX2, PROFLEX3 and PROFLEX4 - which differ according to the number of external and internal grinding wheels housed in the wheelhead structure.
Each model is specially designed to use conventional external wheels with 508, 610 or 760mm diameter and peripheral speeds from 50 to 63m/s (C line), or high-speed CBN wheels with 400 or 500mm diameter and peripheral speeds from 120 to 140m/s (S line), in combination with several internal grinding units.
Different spindle designs are available for each wheel type.
All spindle units feature extra-precise ceramic rolling bearings, coaxial integrated drive motors and wheel balancers incorporated in the spindle nose.
Extensive product engineering work made it possible to develop a full range of machine sizes with different between-centres capacities.
The machine bed and stationary table are modular units with one-piece load-bearing structure, ribbed to guarantee thermal and dynamic stability.
Stationary table design with recirculating roller or hydrostatic Z-axis crossfeed and X-axis infeed minimises the machine’s footprint and rationalises fluid and electrical system layout.
User-friendly programming is ensured by Tacchella’s Tacchella Operator Package (TOP); interactive software that meets the challenge of combining flexibility with full process capacity.
All setup, programming, grinding, cycle monitoring and diagnostics operations involved in normal machine use are simple and ‘familiar’ to the operator thanks to a specially designed working environment.
The most commonly used wheel profiles are stored in the package’s Standard Wheel Library.
Geometrical characteristics are specified simply by assigning the desired value in the table of variables appearing in the screen form for the selected wheel.
The selection of standard grinding cycles makes it possible to satisfy a range of needs, carrying out complete, complex grinding operations with ease.
The standard grinding cycles, which can be combined in any machine configuration, can be used for diameter, shoulder, groove radius, chamfer and taper grinding with or without interpolation, as well as for contouring and grinding threads, regular polygons, non-round shapes and cams with regular or special wheels, all in a single setup.
The TOP Tacchella software package is patented by Tacchella Macchine.