ANCA’s new MX7 ULTRA can manufacture large volumes of endmills and other cutting tools of the highest accuracy and quality.
The minute size of a micron is beyond the human eye, but in becoming even more precise and moving from micrometers to nanometers, ANCA will offer the highest accuracy and quality in a cutting tool in the market. New software, hardware, and design features are combined to make significant advances in surface finish, accuracy, and controlled runout to deliver batch consistency from the first ground tool to the thousandth.
The MX7 ULTRA includes:
- Nanometer control system.
- New servo control algorithm for smooth motion.
- System and mechanical upgrades enhance stiffness and rigidity.
- In-process measuring, balancing and runout compensation for consistent accuracy.
- Motor temperature control (mtc) — compensation for thermal expansion on the grinding spindle.
- Specialist training support in how to grind industry leading cutting tools.
“The MX7 ULTRA is a significant development in precision machine design and will change the industry expectations for accuracy and tool life,” said Pat Boland, ANCA co-founder. “Achieving these outstanding results has only been possible because of our extensive experience working with customers to manufacture the highest quality cutting tools over many years. At ANCA we are always designing and innovating to find better customer solutions and I am very proud of the ANCA team that has developed the MX7 ULTRA.”
“The ULTRA machine is truly market changing. It is the culmination of ANCA’s elite technology, deep industry knowledge, and customer experience in grinding,” said Thomson Mathew, ANCA product manager for the MX series and software products.
Unlike its competitors, ANCA is vertically integrated. This provides a significant advantage as it means ANCA teams can develop and manufacture their own machines from base to canopy — including controls and drive systems, design and simulation software, and even machine monitoring software. Owning all the technology means engineers and designers can consider the entire machine as a single system when developing new solutions.
“We wanted to create technology that could produce premium cutting tools that are above the current market standard in both accuracy and tool life. We introduced nanometer resolution into our axis, which is new to the cutting tool market. The result is a perfect example of ANCA’s vertical integration capabilities as we have the in-house ability to fine tune or develop the new algorithms for our drives to make this happen,” said Mathew.
MX7 ULTRA performance highlights include:
- Greater control for the velocity and acceleration or deceleration along with machine jerk limits: To increase the stiffness of the C-axis, the MX7 ULTRA combines developments to the nanometer or micro degree resolution in the linear and rotary axis, tuning parameters, several system enhancements, and major mechanical changes.
- ULTRA-fast response to internal or external disturbances: ANCA’s newly designed servo control algorithm allows silky smooth motion of an axis with the use of a unique algorithm and nanometer measurement in the control system.
- Better cycle time and higher productivity of high-quality cutting tools: The unique algorithm is key to the performance of the machine and ensures outstanding tracking performance. It also allows ULTRA-performance of the servo system without using a complex, complicated, or expensive mechanical system.
- Reduces setup times and scrap: Cutting-edge software has been developed by ANCA to ensure batch consistency in large volumes. LaserUltra is part of the MX7 ULTRA package to maintain consistency and accuracy of the grinding process which includes in-process measurement and compensation to accommodate wheel wear and other external variations during large batch grinding.
- Increased wheel life and better-quality tools: Tool and wheel performance can be further optimized by the iBalance software, which guides a user to the optimal grinding position and RPM for vibration monitoring and balancing the wheelpack inside the machine.
- Consistency in finished tool quality: A major inclusion in the MX7 ULTRA package is the total tool runout measurement and compensation operation in iGrind. When an endmill is in rotation it is important that each tooth hits at the exact same spot along the workpiece for longer tool life and efficient cutting. Every tool in the batch can be measured and compensated for runout to make sure the entire batch is within a tolerance of 0.002mm.
- Consistent spindle thermal stability: Motor Temperature Control (MTC) is a patented (US PAT. 11,394,331) innovation built into the motor spindle drive firmware. Smart control algorithm actively manages and maintains the temperature of motorized spindles in the MX7 ULTRA.
- Post grinding processes: The smoother, finer cutting edge and surface finish as a result of the combination of all the above including the nanometer control will assist in all post grinding applications like edge preparation and coating.
MORE INFO www.anca.com
