b'\x1b\x1a\x19 \x1f\x18\x1d\x17\x16Machine TechnologyALL-IN-ONE TOOL GRINDERBy William LeventonT here is no need for different ma-chines for the different opera-tions required to grind solid rotary cutting tools.Thatexplainswhydemandis healthy for the GrindSmart 660XW from Switzerland-based Rollomatic. This hybrid tool-grinding machine handles both grinding of cutting geometries and peel grinding for other tool production tasks. These includeplunge-grindingopera-tions, blank preparation for com-mon-shank rotary cutting tools and neck grinding for long-reach mold-and-die endmills.Toourknowledge,thereis no other machine on the market with this kind of ability, said Eric Schwarzenbach, president of Rol-lomatic Inc., the companys North American headquarters in Munde-lein, Illinois.The six-axis GrindSmart 660XW allows users to employ what Rol-lomatic calls an ultralean processRollomaticthat eliminates the need for multi- The GrindSmart 660XW offers multiple tool-grinding capabilities and a compact footprint.ple machines and setups to com-plete all the steps necessary to grindgeometries and peel grinding indesigned to provide good support a tool. One result is a much quickera single machine, the GrindSmartduring both fluting and drill-point-process. 660XW features a traveling high- ing operations. Thanks to the trav-If you do it on three differentspeed workhead mounted on aeling workhead, the grinding wheel machines, it can take days or weeksCNC linear axis. The machine alsois always on top of the steady rest to complete, Schwarzenbach said.includes a novel steady rest systemduring peel grinding, which makes But on one machine, it is done infor a more stable process. In addi-one chucking. about the authortion, the grinding wheel position re-In addition, he pointed out thatmains fixed and close to the steady processmanagementiseasierWilliam Leventonsupport point to prevent problem-when only one machine is involved,is a contributingatic deflection regardless of the and theres also a lower risk of toolwriter for CTE.length of the tool.damage due to less handling andContact him atThe one-piece steady rest in-transportation. 609-920-3335cludes a half-round for support or wleventon@To combine grinding of cuttinggmail.com. during fluting and a bushing for 6OCTOBER 2022 MachineTech.indd 6 9/19/22 10:39 AM'