NEWS FROM OKAMOTO EUROPE Official Newsletter Okamoto Machine Tool Europe GmbH July 2015
Open House Success!
The Okamoto Open House and 80th year celebration proved a
resounding success with over 140 overseas visitors and many more
visitors from within Japan arriving throughout the 2 days.
Honoured guests were able to see 30 different Okamoto machines
on display with 8 live grinding demonstrations. Additional items of
interest were provided by several exclusive Okamoto suppliers
displaying an interesting range of innovative equipment for
grinding.
Our 80th Year celebration was also marked by 2 other machine tool
companies that share Okamoto’s pursuit of accuracy and
efficiency. Yasda were demonstrating a high precision machining
centre and Sodick were showing a Wire Cut EDM machine.
In addition to the grinding machines and semiconductor machine
displays, visitors to the Open House were also given a unique view
of the inner workings of the factory. The Okamoto mother
machine shown below grinding an Okamoto machine bed was just
one of the many attractions.
“Grinding
Revolution on view
for all to see”
UPZ-Li Series – High Speed, High Efficiency
The new UPZ-Li Series featured heavily at the Okamoto Open
House. Several completed machines were being demonstrated
prior to their despatch to customers around the World. This new
range of ultra precision high speed surface and profile grinding
machines has a linear motor table drive capable of 40m/min.
In-Process Measuring
Touch probes are becoming more common
on all machines now, and grinding has not
been forgotten. The ACC-104CA3 was
demonstrated during the Open House
measuring a tapered slot using a wheelhead
mounted probe.
The UPZ-Li Series is designed to accept the Okamoto CCD camera
measuring system. Measurements can be automatically taken
both during the process and after grinding with compensations
applied where required.
The optimal
configuration
between the UPZ-Li
Series column
moving axis and
table axis has been
designed for high
speed, strength and
stiffness. This design
ensures the highest
accuracy.
Grinding Revolution by Coolant Application
Customers are always looking to get ahead. Until now, in Europe the
best way to improve performance has been to increase the wheel
spindle motor power, coolant flow, and coolant pressure. Thereby using
ever more kilowatts. The Japanese seek high efficiency without using
more power in order to be kinder to the environment and to save money
at the same time.
Now, with the help of a specialist research partner, Okamoto has proven
that it is possible to grind more efficiently with larger, cuts using a
standard powered motor and coolant supply. This has been made
possible with the new Okamoto BIX high efficiency coolant delivery
system.
During the recent Okamoto Open House, we witnessed an Okamoto
ACC-208CHiQ double column surface grinder remove 0.1mm of material
per pass with a 100mm wide wheel and only a 15kW motor. This was
achieved by using a standard low pressure coolant unit together with the
Okamoto BIX high efficiency coolant delivery system. The size of cut here
was in the order of 4 times higher than would normally be possible and it
was done without using any more power.
Visitors to the Open House also witnessed an Okamoto IGM15NCIII
internal grinding machine, fitted with the new Okamoto BIX high
efficiency coolant delivery system, achieve an in-feed rate of 3mm/min
with a Ø40mm wheel using the standard low pressure coolant system.
This represents a 10 times increase in the normally expected feed-rate.
The Okamoto BIX
high efficiency
coolant delivery
system is now
available for
delivery with all
new Okamoto
grinding machines!
An ACC-208CHiQ removing 0.1mm per
pass, with almost no visible sparks. Made
possible by the use of the Okamoto BIX
high efficiency coolant delivery system.
ACC-104CA3 - 3 Axis Profile Grinder
The popular range of Okamoto ACC-CA and ACC-CAiQ Series column
moving surface grinding machines has now been extended to include an
even more sophisticated CNC with 3 or more controlled axes. The ACC-
CA3 Series features full 3 axis control of X, Y and Z axes with further
options for swing dressing devices and NC index devices.
This design features an extremely rigid, single piece, tee shaped,
main casting with fully supported slide ways to guarantee the
highest stability and accuracy. With an optimum table to floor
height, the moving column type design also gives easier access for
work loading and unloading.
The ACC-104CA3 when equipped
with an NC index device is capable of
carrying out extremely sophisticated
profile grinding operations like the
broach grinding example shown
here.
A 5-axis version of the
ACC-104CA3 was
demonstrated at the
Open House. A
tapered slot
component was
mounted in an NC
indexing attachment
at one end of the
machine table, and a
rotary swing dresser
was mounted at the
other end. A complex
grinding and dressing
cycle was
demonstrated which
included in-process
measurement using a
wheelhead mounted
measuring probe.
The Solution Provider for Emerging Abrasive Processes