Collaboration Leads to Innovative Multi-Process CNC Machine Tool for Complete End Mill Manufacturing
Star Cutter's new NXT 5-axis tool and cutter grinding machine.
US manufacturers Star Cutter Company and Garr Tool have jointly developed an innovative 5-axis CNC machine tool that completely automates the production of complex profile end mills -- from blank to finished tool.
Star Cutter Company specializes in carbide and preform manufacturing, cutting tools and CNC machines for tool/cutter grinding and hob sharpening. Garr Tool is the USA's leading manufacturer of high-performance solid carbide cutting tools.
All of the machines are based on control technology supplied by the specialist CNC company NUM.
According to John Leppien II, Vice President of Garr Tool, "We use NUM's NUMROTO software for tool production and reconditioning on all of our Star and UWS machines. Our operators regard it as very flexible and user-friendly, and we find that it encourages interdepartmental knowledge sharing and also helps to reduce our training overheads."
All 5 axes on Star Cutter's new NXT tool and cutter grinding machine are controlled by a NUM Flexium+ CNC system.
A few years back, Garr Tool began producing a series of large diameter tools for use on high torque machines employed in the aerospace industry; however, manufacturing the tools involved multiple machines and multiple processes.
The company therefore embarked on a collaborative project with Star Cutter's Elk Rapids Engineering team, to develop a multi-process machine capable of handling the entire production task. The result was a 2018 development of a Star CNC Tool grinder which included NUMROTO end mill software, cylindrical grind, along with linear motors and drives, with all 5 axes on a closed loop chiller/coolant system. This thermally stable machine allows Garr Tool to maintain .001" in diameter on the OD of these tools during lights out for 48-hour unattended runs.
Garr Tool operates a state-of-the-art 200,000 square foot manufacturing facility in central Michigan.
Star's latest machine, the NXT tool and cutter grinder, now also incorporates these same features that were introduced to Garr Tool. Based on NUM's Flexium+ CNC system and NUMROTO software, this new 5-axis machine tool features linear motors instead of ball screws on the X, Y and Z axes, direct drive torque motors on the B and C rotary axes, and a liquid-cooled spindle motor.
There is a choice of three different types of spindle motor, to best suit application needs; these include a very high-speed unit capable of 24,000 rpm, and a very high power unit rated at 28 kW.
The NXT has an exceptionally small footprint (including the spindle/axis chiller) of just 7'6" x 6'6" and an installed height of only 7'5". These dimensions mean that the machine can easily be accommodated on the shop floor, where space is often at a premium. The base of the machine is cast in Zanite® Plus polymer composite to ensure mechanical rigidity and thermal stability.
The ability to use large diameter grinding wheels for profiling applications or small, sub 1" (25 mm) diameter wheels for PCD pocket grinding on the same machine introduces a remarkable level of production flexibility.
Garr Tool specializes in solid carbide cutting tools, including end mills, drills, reamers and routers.
Star Cutter's new NXT tool and cutter grinder features a fully integrated Fanuc 200iD compact 6-axis short arm robot to facilitate fully automated processing of round and flat tool blanks; the standard gripper can handle from 5 mm to 32 mm blanks, with other options available. In-process measurement data is fed directly to the CNC system's NUMROTO software, to provide adaptive real-time control of the entire grinding process.
Based on a modular architecture, the NXT is designed for ease of integration with other forms of industrial automation and handling robots. An extensive range of factory-build and retrofit options include a traveling W-axis and a 12,000 rpm wheel dresser.
Want more information? Click below.
Rate this article
View our terms of use and privacy policy ::m::