Form Grinder Achieves 1-Micron Stopping Accuracy

The UPZ-Li form grinder from Okamoto is designed for high-tolerance grinding of difficult materials in the electronics, form tool, fiber optics and other industries. The machine features a rigid, T-shaped base and construction. The extra large, heavy-duty column assembly ensures sufficient rigidity and vibration damping for critical high-tolerance grinding applications, the company says. Zero table overhang eliminates deflection that could reduce accuracy. The spindle head assembly is oil-cooled to minimize thermal expansion. Standard scale feedback on the X, Y and Z axes is said to simplify positioning and ensure consistent high-accuracy grinding.

The UPZ-Li's linear motor table drive delivers table positioning and table reciprocation of 500 strokes/min. at 10 mm (0.3937") per stroke. Stopping accuracy is 1 micron (0.000039"). High-accuracy positioning also enables in-process measuring. A shift-plunge cycle reduces grinding cycle times, the company says, and the machine is also capable of high-speed contour grinding.

Okamoto’s control software enables touchscreen data input. The i-CAM software can automatically convert DXF files into grinding data, simplifying operation for inexperienced operators.