High Production ID Grinder

Opus is a high-production grinder for a range of mid-sized parts. This ID grinder is designed for grinding many components in the automotive industry, such as constant velocity joint components, valve lash adjusters, universal joint cups, transmission components, wheel hubs, AC compressors components and connecting rods. For the bearing industry, the machine is suitable for grinding ball bearing races, tapered roller bearing tracks, bore and face, seal diameters and groove configurations, precision bushings, self-aligning bearings and specialty bearings. Other applications include complex shafts, hydraulic pump rings, centering balls, gear bores and faces, hydraulic valve spools and refrigeration compressor components. Key specifications include bore sizes from 0.40" to 7" (10 mm to 177 mm), bore lengths to 3" (75 mm), 10" (254 mm) Z-axis travel and 2" (50 mm) X-axis travel. Positioning is accomplished with digital servomotors direct-coupled to precision ballscrews. Resolution is 0.000002" (0.05 micron) in the X and Z axes. Rapid travel is 600 ipm (15.5 m/min.) in the X axis and 1,800 ipm (46 m/min.) in the Z axis. Its cast iron bed features a tube design that resists torsional and bending forces. Three-point leveling support makes this a stable base, the company says. A flow-through system circulates oil and coolant through the base to normalize temperatures throughout the machine for thermal stability. The X- and Z-axis slides are independent, each mounted directly to the machine bed. This configuration creates a low center of gravity in each axis and reduces the mass each slide carries. The round bar hydrostatic bearings used in each axis enhance stiffness and reduce friction. Together, these features permit fast and smooth acceleration and deceleration not possible with conventional CNC machines, the company says, adding that with the elimination of the “stick slip” associated with other way systems, machine positioning reflects the true resolution capability of the feed system. Diamond sizing, in-process gaging or post-process gaging can be used to control size on this machine. In-process gaging monitors workpieces while they are being processed. Size is measured and cycle modifications are communicated directly to the processor. Post-process gaging inspects the finished ground part and instructs the control when any size correction is necessary for the next part. Automatic taper adjustment is also available. The builder offers a number of optional workholding devices and loaders for different applications, such as a magnetic chuck shoe centerless with linear loader, chuck with slot-cam loader, chuck with ball-spline loader and disk drive fixture with ejector loader. A selection of dressing systems is also available, including single point diamond (straight and radius), high frequency rotary cup wheel, diamond roll and diamond disk with a lift-up fixture. The company’s cartridge-style Hi-Speedpower spindles are standard equipment. These spindles employ hybrid ceramic bearings. Covering a speed range from 4,000 to 20,000 rpm, these spindles are suitable for CBN abrasives.