Wheel changer extends unmanned tool grinding

WALTER introduced an innovative grinding wheel changer for the HELITRONIC VISION CNC tool grinder.  Wheel change time has been reduced to less than ten seconds, resulting in increased productivity for a range of different applications:

• For long loader runs, similar wheel packs can be changed as wheels wear
• For mixed tool batches, different wheel packs can be loaded for different tool types
• For mixed tool materials, CBN and Diamond wheel packs can both be auto-loaded

The grinding wheel changer fits onto the right side of the machine and, together with the tool loader on the left side, turns the HELITRONIC VISION into a fully automated, compact high-tech grinding machine.  The wheel changer magazine holds up to twelve adapters, each of which can have up to two grinding wheels.  The maximum wheel diameter 6 inches (150 mm).  Each wheel set includes an integral coolant manifold so the nozzles can be set for optimum coolant flow before the wheels are even used.  An optional pump provides a 600 PSI (50 bar) jet of coolant into the grinding wheel to keep it cutting freely during a long production run.