Designed for speed and rigidity, Chevalier’s dual-column, fixed-beam-type grinder is available with table sizes ranging to 60" × 120" and load capacities as heavy as 17,600 lbs. The grinder is suited for medium- to large-sized parts for aircraft, wind turbine, automotive, power generation, oil exploration, mining and heavy machinery applications.
The X-axis table speed ranges from 16 to 82 fpm. For continuous, heavy duty metal removal, the grinder features a high-precision, large-diameter, cartridge-type spindle running with 4 pcs Class 7 (P4) angular-contact ball bearings and a set of needle roller bearings in front. A 2,000-rpm motor running a 20" × 5" × 3" wheel drives the spindle.
The control system is based on the company’s PC-based Smart II CNC control, which features a three-step grinding and dressing mode; programmable concave and convex grinding functions; a conversational graphic program for surface, crisscross, plunge and multi-slot grinding; an interrupt option for automatic wheel dressing during the grinding cycle; and a simulation mode activated by turning the handwheel clockwise to execute and counterclockwise to reverse the program. A “macro zone” enables the operator to create and save custom programs that can then be transferred through the Ethernet or intranet.
Other features include total rated power that ranges from 30 to 80 hp. The machine uses a 132-gal. coolant tank and filtration system to accommodate extended grinding cycles. According to the company, driving the saddle movement with a rotating ballscrew nut instead of a ballscrew minimizes vibration and thermal displacement. The machine base features hardened and ground double “V” longitudinal slideways for optimum straightness and smooth table movement. It also features four heavy duty boxways on downfeed, the company says.
Options include higher-horsepower spindle motors; a spindle oil cooler; a 40" × 40" electromagnetic chuck; an SBS automatic grinding wheel balancer; and combination coolant and dust collector with magnetic separator device and table-mount diamond disc dresser. The electrical cabinet and cable channels are mounted on either side of the machine to save space.
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