Featuring modular design, Studer Model S120 offers solution for parts and components with external diameter of 50 mm or less. Center height is 125 mm, while swing diameter is 130 mm. Wheelhead arrangement presents 1 or 2 grinding spindles for rough and finish grinding in same set-up. Digital direct-drive, 3-phase servomotors with prestressed, precision ballscrews power X- and Z-axes. Fanuc 300i digital CNC control and axis drive components.

MIAMISBURG, OH - United Grinding Technologies, Inc. (UGT) announces the introduction of a new addition to its Studer line of high-performance internal production cylindrical grinders, the S120.

Modular design for quick setup and changeover, state-of-the-art digital control and drive systems and user-friendly step-by-step programming make the S120 a highly flexible solution to a wide variety of small diameter parts and components, typically with an external diameter of 50 mm or less. Center height is 125 mm, while swing diameter is 130 mm.

According to Hans Ueltschi, national sales manager, Cylindrical Products Group, one of the design achievements in the S120 has been keeping the machine footprint small, conserving valuable plant floor real estate, while accommodating the predictable- automation.

"Parts of this small size and at these very high volumes are obvious candidates for automated part-feeding," he says. "The problem with this in the past has been buying automation from a third party, invariably with its own control, and then trying to integrate that into our machine. Often you find you've doubled the footprint - or more. Then, you still have productivity and maintenance issues to say nothing about programming and control issues."

This is not the case with the S120. "The S120 uses its own Studer automated feed system that's entirely integrated," Ueltschi says, "so that we don't increase the machine's footprint, and since it's a new Studer automation system, it will be controlled right from the machine control, keeping everything very simple and straightforward."

Ueltschi says that the S120 is a "global" machine, in that it's market is very board based. It complements the Studer lineup and doesn't replace a current offering. Typical part candidates include small automotive parts, components for hydraulic control systems and control valves, injector components and control parts for steering systems or ABS systems

The wheelhead arrangement presents one or two grinding spindles for rough and finish grinding in the same set-up. The two spindles have independent, programmable drive systems to fully optimize the grinding process. Single spindle configuration permits grinding of a single bore, keeping the S120 as a very simple bore grinder. The addition of the second spindle permits more universal applications, allowing for OD and ID grinding in one set-up, roughing with one spindle and finishing with the other, or finishing the bore on part with one spindle while grinding and subsequently grinding the part face with the other spindle.

S120 overview

Digital direct-drive, three-phase servomotors with prestressed, precision ballscrews power the X- and Z-axes. Cross slide X-axis travel is 300 mm at speeds ranging to 15 m/min. Linear resolution is 0.0001 mm. Z-axis slide travel is 180 mm. Speed and linear resolution are respectively 30 m/min and 0.0001 mm.

The S120 is extremely fast and can be equipped with conventional linear axis guideways to reduce costs or can be equipped with hydrostatic guideways to maximized the machine's speed. Patented pre-loaded precision roller bearing guideway provides wear-free, stick-free movement and high-precision accuracy.

The S103 Granitan mineral-cast machine base delivers outstanding vibration dampening, rigidity and strength, as well as excellent chemical stability and thermal compensation.

Dressing

The S120 uses vitrified CBN, and high-tech rotary dressing tools and touch-dressing capabilities. Wheel dressing intervals may be made by the operator following these simple methods: by pressing a pushbutton at any time during any grinding cycle; after a programmed number of specific machined parts or grinding operations; at programmed switchover points; at the programmed nominal size; after a specific number of strokes - or a combination of these, permitting the optimum solution for the specific grinding application.

Control & programming

The S120 features state-of-the-art Fanuc 300i digital CNC control and axis drive components. The 300i is part of the new Fanuc 30i Series and is a high performance Open System CNC that supports Windows 2000 or XP. Machine operation, setup, changeover, peripheral operations, dressing and programming of even complex parts are easily accomplished through the innovative, step-by-step Studer Pictogramming which allows operators simply to connect grinding cycles to one another and add necessary numerical values. The control then generates the machine program automatically. Advanced manual programming in G code is of course also possible. Programming is done directly at the machine or off-line and then downloaded to the machine control. Process parameters can be changed on the fly, while the machine runs, without affecting the workpiece program.