AUSTRALIAN CNC grinder manufacturer ANCA has released a new machine designed specifically to grind woodworking tools.
Named the WGX, the new machine can manufacture and re-sharpen a variety of wood working tools from round shank cutters to complex profile routers or blades.
The WGX provides diversity with new applications allowing scalable production capabilities.
WGX's double-ended spindle gives the freedom of using multiple wheels on a single job. This is ideal when producing profile blades, as a dedicated roughing and finishing wheel enables high material removal and finished profile accuracy and quality.
The wheel spindle is a direct-drive motorised spindle capable of 10,000rpm.
With a constant power of 4.2kW (5.6HP) and peak power of 9.5kW (12.7 HP), the WGX offers sufficient power for producing profile blades, sharpening applications and some new tool production.
To meet heavier grinding requirements, the spindle can be upgraded to have a constant power of 8.2kW (11HP) and a peak power to 19kW (26 HP).
WGX is compact yet has a deceptively large working envelope for a machine of this size.
The machine offers all the standard features used on all ANCA CNC machines including:
* Polymer concrete base
* MPG feed
* Automatic tool probing
* Direct drive technology
* 5DX CNC digital servo drive system.
Productivity on the WGX can be enhanced by installing any of several automation options.
CLX - Compact loader
Compact in design, this loader is mounted inside the machine and does not increase the machine footprint. It offers small batch loading capability enabling short periods of unmanned operation and is suitable for both round shank tooling and profile blades.
WLX - High capacity loader
A high-production loader makes extended unmanned operation possible. The loader offers exceptional flexibility and can be set up to load:
* Profile blades
* Round shank tooling (drills, compression cutters)
* Router with head diameters up to 100mm.
The loader software allows the machine to grind a batch of tools that are different in size, shape and type. This ensures the loader is used to its full capacity when possible.
The ANCA ToolRoom software suite with its easy to follow user interface is capable of producing a wide variety of tools in one setup. The intuitive software has clear and precise help images to simplify use.
Compression router
This software package is for tools where the cutter requires opposite cutting flutes on a single tool. Commonly called compression routers, they are also known as compound shear or up/down cutters.
Special tool profile
A wide variety of customer-defined profile tools - such as routers or spindle blocks for cope and pattern sets - can be produced on the WGX.
The user interface allows tool profiles to be drawn on the machine or imported directly as a DXF from any third-party CAD software.
Profile blade
This software is used to manufacture replaceable profile blades. The blades are ground on the centre line of the machine with relevant hook and shear angles to suit the cutter body entered by the operator.
The software uses the final profile shape required and will automatically distort the profile to obtain the required cutting shape based on the hook and shear angles.
Tooling options
There are numerous options available with the WGX, giving it the flexibility to suit a wide range of applications. These include popup steady, iView tool measuring system and a range of pneumatically operated work holding systems.
A fully automatic blade chuck for manufacturing profile blades is also available. The blade chuck is a very strong and rigid unit providing exceptional work holding for blades ranging in length from 8mm to 80mm.
The chuck is designed to cater for different possible datum features on a wide variety of blade types.