In the world of manufacturing and machining, centreless grinding machines play a vital role in achieving high precision parts quickly and efficiently.
What is a centreless grinding machine?
It is a machine-tool used to perform grinding operations on cylindrical parts. What makes them different from conventional cylindrical grinding machines is that they do not use a clamping system, such as a spindle or workholding fixture, to clamp the workpiece during the process, but rather the workpiece is held and guided between a grinding (work) wheel and a feed wheel.
MAIN COMPONENTS:
- Working wheel: Responsible for removing material from the surface of the workpiece.
- Driving wheel: Controls the rotational speed and feed of the workpiece.
- Support fence: Holds the workpiece in place during the process.
- Bench: the base structure of the machine that supports all the components.
- Adjustment and regulation systems: These allow parameters such as the inclination, positions and speed of the grinding wheels to be configured.
- Lubrication and cooling system: Distributes a cooling fluid over the contact area to dissipate heat
- Control panel (Conventional or CNC): Allows the operator to set and monitor machine parameters such as speed, depth of cut and feed.
ADVANTAGES
Compared to other machines, their main qualities are:
High productivity: They allow multiple parts to be machined in a reduced time.
Flexibility: They are ideal for small and medium-sized parts with simple and complex geometries.
Precision: They achieve very tight dimensional tolerances within thousandths of a millimetre and uniform surface finishes.
Versatility: They can work with a variety of materials, from hard metals to polymers.
TYPES OF GRINDING
There are two main methods:
Through-feed grinding: The workpiece is fed between the grinding wheels and passes from one end to the other. It is ideal for long workpieces such as shafts or bars.
In-feed grinding: The workpiece remains in a fixed position while the grinding wheel performs the work. It is used for parts with specific geometries, such as bushings or bolts.
APPLICATIONS
Centreless grinding machines are common in sectors such as:
Automotive: Production of parts such as drive shafts, valves and bearings.
Aerospace: Manufacture of critical components with high precision requirements.
Medical: Production of surgical devices and precision parts.
Electronics: Production of metal connectors and pins.
SOME RECOGNISED BRANDS AND EXAMPLES
In the market you can find a multitude of brands that vary in the material used, the position of the teeth, size, etc.
Among the best known are: ESTARTA, DANOBAT, LIDKÖPING, BOCCA MALANDRONE, SENY, GOZUA, HERMINGHAUSEN, CINCINNATI, NOMOCO, etc.
At MTLA we have a stock of more than 100 centreless grinding machines, some of them for retrofitting (if you want to know what retrofitting is, click here).
As an example of some of the centreless grinding machines that we have already retrofitted, we can list the following:
ESTARTA 327
ESTARTA 326
ESTARTA 322
ESTARTA 320
BOCCA MALANDRONE R 50 CF
It is clear then that centreless grinding machines represent a powerful solution for industries that demand precision, speed and efficiency in their processes. Their ability to work without the need for direct clamping makes them indispensable tools in multiple sectors.
If you are thinking of implementing this technology in your business, consider your specific needs and contact us either by phone: +34 924 500 336 or by E-mail:maquinasalonso@maquinasalonso.com to get the most out of it.