FLEXIBLE GRINDING SYSTEMS?

Low- to medium-volume surface or profile grinding operations demand the same flexibility of turning-type flexible machining operations - the ability to carve out a whole family of parts without retooling. Such a grinding solution has been developed in Germany by Blohm Grinding Machines, Hauni-Werke, Hamburg, W Germany, and is being introduced in this country by Hermes Machine Tool Co Inc, Fairfield, NJ. It employs CNC continuous-path profiling and dressing of the grinding wheel using one or more single-point universal diamond dressing disks. In essence, the disk carves the CNC-generated profile into the wheel and then redresses the wheel as often as desired. Within the limits of the disk geometry and wheel area, it is possible to generate automatically any part shape stored in the CNC memory.