ANCA offers LaserUltra, the next generation of LaserPlus, an in-process measurement technology.
"The solution allows customers to operate unmanned overnight with confidence they can retrieve their finished tools the next day within specification. LaserPlus was itself a game changer for the industry and already significantly faster than external tool measurement processes," said a company spokesperson.
LaserUltra offers 70% reduction in measurement time compared to LaserPlus through the new Analog measurement. The Analog measurement is a continuous edge scan instead of a number of digital points along the cutting edge. This process also eliminates variations caused by a machine standing idle, errors due to manual wheel corrections and the requirement of skilled operators. LaserUltra has increased accuracy, productivity and reduction of scrap.
ANCA's LaserUltra allows the measurement of tool geometries to tolerances of 0.002 mm without removing the tool from the grinder, saving time in the manufacturing process, and ensuring maximum accuracy in measurement is maintained over large batch grinding, according to the company.
Pat Boland, ANCA co-founder, said, "The intersection of 5-axis milling machines, advanced CAD/CAM software and advanced profile geometry cutting tools are revolutionizing the die and mold and aerospace machining industries. ANCA's LaserUltra tool measurement system, together with RN34 software, gives tool manufacturers all they need to manufacture complex profile end mills productively to outstanding accuracy."
Additional LaserUltra features and benefits:
- New ToolTypes like Barrel shape cutters and Lens shapes are included with LaserUltra measurement cycles
- New operations like runout compensation and enhanced functions
- Larger working envelop means larger diameters and length of tools can be measured
- Measurement reports have been modified to suit customers' requirements
- Eliminates errors caused by manual compensation process.
Thomson Mathew, ANCA Software Product Manager, said: "Gone are the days of manual or external measurement and compensation for critical dimensions or profile forms due to wheel wear or other grinding factors, since LaserUltra can measure and compensate within a couple of microns. All this is done in-process without taking the tools out of the machine with complete control of process stability and capability. These measurements are displayed at various locations to give our customers complete visibility and trust in their grinding process."
LaserUltra is an automatic O.D., profile measurement and compensating system for ANCA's TX, MX and FX machines. It is suited for measuring and compensating tools to maintain tight tolerances (0.002 mm) in unmanned production grinding. The in-process measurement is available in both digital and analog for fast and accurate measurements to enable productivity and performance improvements.
It is permanently mounted inside the machine and will not interfere with typical grinding processes and accessories. Using the laser, the operator can perform accurate in-process measurement and compensation without removing tools from the machine.
Thomson added: "It gives customers flexibility to service multiple markets, supporting a large range of cutting tool applications, for example, all types of endmills or step tools, including profile, compression routers, thread mills and more. Furthermore, different versions of LaserUltra can cover large diameter ranges and various lengths depending on user cases. And finally, LaserUltra can generate reports that can be configured depending on customers' requirements."
For more information contact:
ANCA Inc.
31129 Century Drive
Wixom, MI 48393
248-926-4466
usainfo@anca.com
www.anca.com