In addition to its machine rebuilding and retrofitting services, IMTS also designs and manufactures a range of new grinding machines including CNC cylindrical grinders.

Established 20 years ago, Industrial Machine Tool Services (IMTS)in Rochester, Kent offers a wide range of specialised grindingservices. This includes: complete machine rebuilds, partialrebuilds, CNC retrofitting, on-site service (for both manual andCNC grinders) and the supply of spare parts. In addition,however, IMTS also designs and manufactures a range of newgrinding machines which include the Rochester series of CNCcylindrical grinders.

One such new model, a Rochester 850 CNCcylindrical grinder, has helped a leading bearing manufacturer toimprove productivity on a range of inner bearing rings requiredin small batches -- generally around 20 off.

Using a magneticface plate (with varying gripping force), this three axis CNCmachine grinds the OD of the bearing rings which are supported bytwo curved brass shoes.

Both the 500mm diameter grinding wheeland the 250mm diameter bearings run in the same direction (likecentreless grinding) so that the parts are forced down into thesupport shoes as they are ground.

Compared with manual methods,CNC grinding provides more consistent results and has cut cycletimes by 60% and set-up times by 70%.

This customised Rochester850 grinder has a centre height of 150mm, 850mm between centresand an NUM 1040 CNC system with special software (for dovetailwheel dressing, angle approach grinding and gothic arch-typeprofiles) written by IMTS.

A menu-driven display simplifieson-machine programming routines.

The straight-approach machinehas a CNC radial dresser and two diamond dressers mounted on thetailstock and can grind at peripheral wheels speeds of up to45m/sec.

These bearing rings are finished ground to 1 micron onthe profile, 0.4 micron for roundness and with surface finishlevels of 0.8 micron Ra\.