ROTARY TRANSFER GRINDER (RTG)

Description

>> Produce your parts up to 4 times faster with ITM’s Rotary Transfer Grinder

Production is the key factor in tool manufacturing. The challenge is obtaining high production rates without sacrificing tool quality. Traditionally this has left manufacturers with one of two choices; produce tools complete in one machine or use a grinding cell concept. Producing tools complete, in a single machine, helps to ensure tool quality by eliminating multiple clampings, but results in longer cycle times. The only way to shorten these cycle times is to increase feedrates; often resulting in undesirable surface finishes.

The RTG Multi Station Grinder was built with these limitations in mind. This machine concept combines the production rate benefits of a cell grinding operation with the quality benefits of producing a complete Tool (Drills, Endmills or similar Tools) in one clamping. The machine consists of three separate stations: Two grinding stations and a loading station. A vertical column mounted through the middle of the machine base is equipped with an Index table featuring three collet workheads that are mounted vertically, with the collet facing downward.

Tools will be loaded in the first station while grinding operations are already in process in each of the additional stations.  At the end of each grinding cycle, the table will be indexed.  Utilizing this station concept only the longest operation determines the total cycle time.  Once all six collets have been loaded, the cycle time for the machine is equivalent to the time between table indexes.  This dramatically reduces cycle time.  Yet, tool quality is not sacrificed, because each tool is still only clamped once.  In addition, the tools are supported ideally in each grinding station.