A new, 2-meter capacity grinding machine is being introduced by a Hardinge Inc. subsidiary. The UltraGrind 2000 is manufactured by Jones & Shipman and based on a smaller-capacity model, but features a new wheelhead design that allows customers a wide choice of external and internal grinding spindle combinations. Effectively, this presents the shop with a custom-designed machine — without the associated cost and development time.
The wheelhead offers wheel sizes up to Ø500 X 100 mm and wheel spindle power up to 11 kW. “The ongoing need for high geometric accuracy with quick changeovers on cylindrical grinding machines was a key factor in the development of the robust Jones & Shipman UltraGrind series,” according to Hardinge grinding sales manager Jeff Hilliard. “Hardinge is excited to have the opportunity to demonstrate the 2-meter machine at IMTS.”
The UltraGrind was designed to address the concerns and production needs of manufacturers that produce precision components. This includes OEMs and machine shops that must produce complex parts, particularly in small-to-medium size volumes, and need maximum flexibility, according to Hardinge. Flexibility combined with ease-of-use improves productivity, keeping the price of the components competitive and matching some high-volume production systems that rely on using multiple machines.
The UltraGrind 2000 CNC grinding machine is particularly well suited for producing parts supplied to manufacturers in the aerospace, defense, energy, tool room, motorsport, volume automotive, and general engineering sectors, according to the builder.
