Royal Master Grinders has developed the TG-12x8 centerless grinder. It has twice the wheel width of the company's previous product line and features a compact platform.
Available in Infeed, Thrufeed, as well as Hi-Accuracy and CNC versions, this machine has a diameter capacity of 3" (75 mm). It offers a grinding wheel diameter of 12" (300 mm) and a regulating wheel of 8" (203 mm) diameter, both being 8" (203 mm) wide. "Wider wheels allow for heavier stock removal for throughfeed grinding, multiple parts for infeed grinding, and in some infeed applications like titanium fasteners, a direct replacement for older, increasingly unavailable rebuilt machines for cam-out applications," said a company spokesperson.
The machine was engineered for strength from the spindle outwards. The grinding wheel spindle design has 4" (100 mm) diameter bearings with three sets of class 7 ABEC angular contact Timken bearings. It is inside a larger headstock with an outboard bearing for a twin grip design. This design gives the grinding wheel enhanced accuracy. According to the company, the regulating wheel with its 2.25" (57 mm) spindle and Timken bearings allows for the most demanding applications to be ground with zero deflection. The 8" (203 mm) diameter regulating wheel allows for CAM-out projects. With each rotation of the regulating wheel, one cycle is completed.
The machine sits on an 8" (203 mm) thick Starrett surface plate quality granite. According to the company, the .0002" (5 micron) flatness specification forms an enhanced platform for the robust spindle design. "The granite, known for its rigidity and thermal properties, provides a superior platform to other machines on the market that have thinner cast iron beds, and makes it as strong as those who have machine platforms twice the physical size of the TG-12x8," said the spokesperson.
With these newer spindles and machine bed and base, the company chose to eliminate all hydraulics from the machine. Standard on its previous grinder version, the TG-12x4, are servo driven regulating wheel spindles, but hydraulics remain on the dressers. On the TG-12x8 the regulating wheel servo drive was upgraded with 170 ft-lbs. of continuous torque with a 10:1 gearbox. Stepper drives were added for programmable traverse rates and ballscrews to dressers as standard equipment. With this new platform, dressers are offered as air sensing, automatic dressing over the wheel CNC, as well as rotary diamond disk CNC platforms.
Ram bed positioning has also been upgraded with a longer and wider ram bed. The upper ram utilizes hard chrome and Turcite for efficient and accurate movements. This friction free ram system, coupled with options such as the throughfeed micro size adjustment and the servo cycle systems, are designed to allow for precise micron movements at a lower cost. Optional high accuracy machine controls, anti-friction cross roller ways and .1 micron glass scales for ram bed positioning are available for sub micron tolerances.
Both systems use a swivel design where the entire ram bed swivels with the work rest holder, making guide adjustments easier for faster set-ups. The redesigned work rest holder makes it easier for the operator to advance the unit after dressing, reducing set-up time, or advancement of the work rest holder after making a size compensation.
Applications such as titanium bar stock, PCD diamond tools and hard carbides are standard for this machine. The TG-12x8 is compatible with a variety of loading applications, including pick and place, robotic and bowl feeding.
For more information contact:
John Memmelaar, Jr.
Royal Master Grinders
143 Bauer Drive
Oakland, NJ 07436-0630
201-337-8500
johnjr@royalmaster.com
www.royalmaster.com