UNISIG has introduced the GR-2 Gundrill Grinder, a grinding and inspection system developed to improve the precision, consistency, and repeatability of in-house gundrill sharpening while providing manufacturers with greater insight into the deep hole drilling process.
For many manufacturers, gundrill grinding is viewed primarily as a maintenance function. While properly sharpening a gundrill extends tool life and reduces tooling costs, it also provides valuable feedback about the drilling process itself. The condition of a drill after production can indicate whether feeds and speeds are appropriate, whether the machine set-up is stable, and whether the process is operating as intended.
"When you sharpen a drill, the tool tells you a great deal about the drilling process," said Anthony Fettig, UNISIG CEO. "If you understand what you are seeing, you can improve tool life, optimize the process, and produce more consistent results. Grinding is not simply about restoring a cutting edge. It is part of understanding and controlling the entire deep hole drilling process."
A spokesperson noted: "A properly maintained gundrill can typically be resharpened multiple times throughout its service life. Performing that work in-house allows manufacturers to reduce tooling inventory, eliminate delays associated with outside grinding services, and return tools to production more quickly. For job shops and manufacturers with low- to medium-volume production, in-house grinding also provides greater ?exibility when production requirements change."
The spokesperson added: "The GR-2 builds on more than a decade of experience supplying gundrill grinding systems to UNISIG customers. Rather than continuing to modify its predecessor, UNISIG engineered the GR-2 speci?cally for the requirements of precision gundrill grinding."
The machine incorporates a mineral composite structure for increased rigidity, a zero-backlash preloaded drive system for precise positioning, and integrated inspection cameras that allow operators to evaluate cutting geometry during the grinding process.
The GR-2 also introduces UNISIG GrindView, a proprietary software developed speci?cally for gundrill grinding applications. GrindView provides visual inspection, measurement, recipe management, and guided grinding work?ows that help operators produce consistent results while reducing dependence on operator experience alone.
"Historically, precision gundrill grinding has relied heavily on individual experience," Fettig added. "By making the grinding process measurable and repeatable, manufacturers can achieve greater consistency between operators while developing a better understanding of how their drilling process affects tool performance."
The combination of machine feedback during drilling and inspection during sharpening creates a continuous process improvement loop. Manufacturers are able to evaluate tool condition, identify process changes, and make adjustments before those conditions affect hole quality or tool life.
In addition to supporting new GR-2 systems, GrindView software will also be available for many existing GR-1 owners through a hardware compatibility upgrade.
UNISIG supports the GR-2 through application engineering, operator training, and remote technical assistance using the UNISIG Tech Center. Customers can receive live sharpening instruction and process guidance from UNISIG applications engineers without requiring on-site training.
For more information contact:
UNISIG
N58W14630 Shawn Circle
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
262-252-5151
sales@unisig.com
www.unisig.com