TAPS | The manufacture of thread cutting taps relies on the efficiency of the process implemented; as a comparatively low value product, production rates need to remain high.

Centreless grinding tap shafts in plunge cycles of a matter of seconds allows other machines, such as dedicated tap or thread grinders, to focus on the cutting section of the tool where they are more efficient. Also, by grinding the shaft and blank face before the cutting section is ground, tool blanks can be loaded into a chuck with the knowledge that the shaft and head are perfectly concentric and blank faces are already ground.

DRILL BITS AND REAMERS | Drill bits and reamers are typically ground on a throughfeed process, although for more complex profiles plunge grinding may be employed.

This is a very fast and efficient production technique, ideal for the manufacture of tools in large volume. The centreless process is suitable for high speed steel, carbide and even diamond tools. The range of automation options which can be offered further support the speed and ease of high volume manufacture using the centreless approach.

TOOL HOLDERS | The accuracy of a the tool holder shaft is critical for positive location and reliable operation in the collet. Particularly when hardened for increased life, finish turning or external grinding to this accuracy can be very time consuming.

Centreless grinding is both fast and reliable, and offers unbeatable performance on roundess, cylindricity, surface finish and overall size. Parallel and tapered shafts can both be ground using the plunge process, and proper abrasive selection ensures that performance remains constant on hard and soft materials.

PUNCHES AND DIES | Punches and dies are used in a variety of manufacturing processes, such as stamping, pressing, forging and forming. Traditionally manufactured from hardened steels, the use of materials such as tungsten carbide is becoming more commonplace due to demands for higher wearing tools.

The manufacture of carbide components is notoriously difficult due to it's resistance to wear, and finish turning with diamond cutting tools is both expensive and time consuming. Centreless grinding can replace the finish turn process, as well as add form and detail to components through use of the correct abrasive.

COLLETS | The production of collets in high volume, for a wide range of applications, can be greatly enhanced through use of the centreless grinding on a plunge process.

The stem and taper of a collet can be ground simultaneously from a rough turned state, which can dramatically reduce tooling costs and production time at the turning stage. Increased dimensional accuracy and cylindricity adds to the quality and fit of the product, increasing comparative product value while at the same time driving down manufacturing costs.

BALL PINS | Due to the complexity of their form, ball pins are commonly ground on external grinding machines, which can be a time consuming process in which obtaining tight tolerances can be notoriously difficult.

Centreless grinding ball pins usign the plunge process enables both the ball and the stem to be ground simultaneously from a rough turned or hardened state. This not only dramatically reduces down time, but ensures both features are concentric to each other, with unrivalled size and roundness characteristics.

BAR GRINDING | Centreless grinding of large bars is commonly used for removing stock from rolled bar with great efficiency and speed. The other advantage centreless grinding brings to bar manufacture is the size and dimensionsional precision which can be achieved on cold and hot rolled bars.

Our centreless machines for use on bar grinding are available with fully automated load and unload conveyors, as well as pre and post-grind batch tables to store bars prior to machining and prior to despatch.