Vollmer Launches Fully Automatic Sharpening Machines

6 June 2012

As the market leading specialist in grinding and eroding machines, Vollmer has now launched its new fully automatic CM300 and CMF300 sharpening machines for carbide-tipped circular saw blades. Suitable for sharpening the edges of circular saw blade teeth on tooth faces, tops and the sides, the two new innovations can machine in one clamping operation to ensure remarkable precision and performance.

With nine CNC-controlled axes and the Vollmer ND460 handling system, the exciting new machines are capable of machining around the clock regardless of blade geometries.

Manufacturers of carbide-tipped circular saw blades for metal machining will undoubtedly be impressed by the CM300 and CMF300 that can be used to sharpen carbide-tipped circular saw blades up to a diameter of 1440mm. Guaranteeing precision to the micron is the result of the nine CNC-controlled axes and automatic tooth measurement. Every saw blade is automatically brought into the exact grinding position, regardless of the diameter. The integrated measuring sensor records all data such as cutting width, steel blade thickness or cutting angle. The machines then measure the grinding wheel, in order to compensate for wear during sharpening.

For the machining of tooth faces and tooth tops, the new CM300 can machine the complete tooth geometry of the tooth tops and tooth faces of carbide-tipped circular saw blades in one clamping operation. Two grinding spindles with an output of 2200 watts can each accept various grinding wheels, this is due to the new automatic tool management. The high mass of the grinding unit and the rigidity of the grinding spindles enable circular saw blades to be sharpened precisely to the micron. The tooth geometry of the cutting edges is automatically measured and various fibres and bevel grinding angles are ground in one setting.

With two main grinding spindles, the grinding wheels for machining chip breakers, clearance angles and chip surfaces are mounted onto powerful main spindles. As the grinding aggregate cannot be swivelled, an impeccably high level of rigidity and accuracy is guaranteed.

Launched alongside the CM300, the new CMF300 has been developed for grinding the sides in flat face grinding procedures. Machining both sides of the tungsten carbide tip simultaneously by utilising the flat face of the diamond cup wheel, the CMF300 achieves excellent stock removal with straight tooth sides for extra strength. Whilst grinding, the sides are measured automatically and an acoustic measuring device is used for accurate adjustment. As the CMF300 automatically defines the grinding point and controls the complete grinding path, adjustment time and effort for the operator are significantly reduced.

With its measuring unit and sound measuring device, the CMF300 measures the complete tooth geometry extremely quickly and precisely to improve machine set-up times. Further enhancing ease of use and automation, the CMF300 automatically determines the grinding point at the cup of the grinding wheel as well as providing automatic grinding path recognition/control. With the machining of radial angles by path processing and CNC controlled setting of tangential angles, the CMF300 delivers remarkable precision and flexibility that is encompassed into a user friendly automated interface that is presented in a familiar Windows based control system.

In essence, the tried and tested Windows-based Vollmer operator interface facilitates the control of the sharpening machine, as grinding programmes are already integrated as standard. Only a small amount of data must be entered to start the sharpening process. In addition, new sharpening programmes can be created during machining. The automated handling system ND460 has loading carriages that can be moved with normal fork lift trucks and are also suitable for the transport of saws in the production process of the circular saw.

The loading carriages of the handling system hold up to 50 saw blades with a diameter up to a maximum of 1440mm. When changing the carriages, the robot stops, but the grinding process is not interrupted. This is ideal for automatic machining overnight and at weekends.

As with all Vollmer machine tools, the CM300 & CMF300 are supported by the company's expanded service concept for sharpening machines. This concept incorporates everything from consultation and financing to start-up and training, maintenance and servicing as well as upgrades and software, Vollmer services cover all phases of the machine lifecycle. This comprehensive package is available with all machines to ensure the end user has confidence and peace of mind with its Vollmer investment.