"Solid endmill and drill production is a highly competitive market, making it challenging to differentiate oneself from competitors," said an ANCA spokesperson. "Inserts for milling and drilling applications offer various advantages over solid carbide tools, but present unique challenges in manufacturing. For those who successfully master the production of insert tools, new market opportunities are available. ANCA's insert grinding solutions may be the answer you need to take this step."
Inserts appeal to users of tools, firstly because one tool body can take a variety of inserts, making them very versatile. Additionally, the cost of replacing just the insert is significantly less than an entire solid carbide tool. For insert manufacturers, however, the challenge is automated production of these uniquely shaped parts.
The ANCA Insert Solution, based on the MX tool grinding machine platform, offers workholding, automation and supporting tool programming software to produce a diverse range of rotary endmill and drill inserts. Inserts that feature common locating datums and clamping features are a fit for the ANCA Insert Solution.
ANCA's Insert Chuck provides the foundation of insert grinding capability. Its versatile design means one chuck can hold a variety of inserts with precise repeatability and necessary rigidity during the grinding operation. Onto the standard chuck, interchangeable jaws are fitted in minutes. These jaws are custom designed based on the insert datum and holding features, as well as considering wheel clearance for necessary grinding operations. ANCA will work with customers to design jaw sets that cover their complete insert design and size range.
For insert grinding, the RoboMate robot loading system is kitted up with the dedicated pallets and grippers for unattended manufacturing. As with the chuck jaws, ANCA will collaborate with customers to design a range of pallets and grippers that suit their inserts.
Comprehensive and flexible programming software is the final element needed for insert grinding. ANCA's iGrind tool programming software is designed for various special endmill and drill insert geometries. Digitizing routines determine the datum location and exact position of the insert before commencing the grinding operation. This helps ensure the insert production batch remains accurate and consistent, delivering quality results.
With production flexibility in mind, the insert grinding system can be easily switched over to solid carbide tool production, meaning a given grinding machine is not locked into production of just one tool type. By switching the Insert Chuck for PremierPlus collet system and replacing RoboMate pallets and grippers, the transition to solid tool production can be done quickly and efficiently.
The insert grinding solution is offered not only on new machines, but can equally be retrofitted on existing MX machines.
For more information contact:
ANCA Inc.
31129 Century Drive
Wixom, MI 48393
248-926-4466
usainfo@anca.com
www.anca.com