Cylindrical Grinder Shows Off High Precision

United Grinding North America’s Studer S131r cylindrical ID-radius grinding machine is well suited for the toughest ID grinding operations where maximum precision is paramount. 

The Studer S131r is said to excel in general grinding applications and the production of complex workpieces made from extremely hard materials, along with hydraulic components such as axial pump pistons, guide plates and housings from hardened steel, cast iron and copper. The machine also handles single-clamping production of complex workpieces with tapers between 20 and 90 degrees.

The machine’s fully automatic, completely sealed, simultaneously swiveling direct-drive, B-axis is said to offer distinctive thermal stability, mechanical rigidity and interpolation from -60 to +91 degrees, while the workhead C-axis enables form and thread grinding. High-precision axis drives with linear motors add speed and accuracy, the company says, and a -50 to +280-degree  swiveling spindle turret with up to four grinding spindles enhances grinding flexibility. StuderSIM software enables operators to machine complex parts, often in a single clamping

With a swing diameter of 300 mm (11.81") above the table, 350 mm (13.78") X-axis/cross slide travel and 400 mm (15.75") Z-axis/longitudinal slide travel, the S131r is said to machine external diameters up to 160 mm (6.3") with an external grinding wheel 250 mm (9.84") in diameter. The S131r accommodates parts up to 300 mm (11.81") long and up to 100 kg (220 lbs), including clamping devices.

One key feature is the wheelhead with different wheel configuration options, and the possibility for an infinite B-axis. Whether the OD, ID or face needs to be ground, these grind types can be accommodated with different wheels on up to three different spindles. Also, an infinite B-axis enables users to control the wheel swivel down to the 1/10,000ths of a single degree, so that a single wheel can be used for multiple angles and features on a single part.