Brian Young, General Manager, EPG, with the Chevalier FSG-50120DC set up to grind large machine components.
Typical injection mold base plates being ground on the Chevalier FSG-50120DC.
The Chevalier FSG-50120DC can obtain parallelism of .0002" across the entire distance.
Erie Precision Grinding (EPG) has built its core business around grinding mold base plates for the injection molding industry. Large surface grinding in the Erie, PA, area had traditionally been performed on 32" single column machines, but they were no longer meeting the needs of the injection molding market. Ever increasing tonnage platforms required a wider machine capacity, creating a need for a larger machine to handle the plate sizes involved. EPG wanted to offer this larger option to its current and expanding customer base.
"The greatest issue our customers face is the need for tight parallelism tolerances," said Brian Young, General Manager, EPG. A typical injection mold plate can be over 40" wide by 60" long. "We explored the large grinder market in search of a machine that would meet the needs of not only capacity, but efficiency and most importantly accuracy," said Young. "These considerations led us to dual column CNC grinders as the tool of choice."
After careful evaluation of their options, Young said the Chevalier FSG series is the one that stood out the most. "It provides an easy to use interface, full CNC control system, total workpiece capacity and the rigidity and accuracy of the dual column design," he said. The EPG team selected the FSG-50120DC 50" by 120" model, as it best suited local molders" size requirements, and purchased the machine from Morris Great Lakes working with Manager Corey Johnson and Salesman Mark Biebel.
"Now that we have completed a number of workpieces using our FSG-50120DC, I am truly impressed by its performance," said Young. "It has exceeded what I thought was possible over such a large platform. The operator interface, intuitive programming and speed are all working together to provide an exceptional piece of equipment capable of servicing our customers effectively and efficiently."
With this machine they have the ability not only to provide local surface grinding services for a plate this large, but can obtain parallelism of .0002" across the entire distance. "This allows our customers to perform the entire array of finish machining operations in one set-up," Young explained.
With the large platform and the ability to grind to tight tolerances, EPG has taken on many large jobs for various manufacturing and end user functions. In addition, the local machine tool re-conditioners now have a local source for machine bed and way grinding.
The dual column surface grinder has a 50" x 120" x 40" capacity. It utilizes a 20" grinding wheel on a 30 HP spindle.
The bulk of EPG's work is with stainless alloys and common tool steels. Castings and forgings are ground as well, and an occasional non-ferrous job comes through the door.
"While our core business is mold plates for the injection molding market, we have already completed many different types of grinds as well," said Young. "We have done machine ways/guides/beds for local rebuilders and production of high volume grinds on smaller parts. Based on the 50 inch capacity, we have also opened up an option for local press manufacturers and rebuilders for high accuracy platen grinds. The possibilities have become endless, and we continue to see an expansion in our customer base because of this unique machine and the convenience of our location to so many manufacturing based organizations."
For more information contact:
Brian Young, General Manager
Erie Precision Grinding
9419 Wattsburg Road
Erie, PA 16509
814-825-7651
erieprecisiongrinding@verizon.net
www.erieprecisiongrinding.com
Chevalier Machinery Inc.
9925 Tabor Place
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
562-903-1929
info@chevalierusa.com
www.chevalierusa.com
NE ONLY
NY (Buffalo and Suburbs), West PA
Morris Great Lakes
9151 Marshall Rd.
Cranberry Twp., PA 16066
877-373-8906
cjohnson@morrisgreatlakes.com
www.morrisgreatlakes.com