Makino company in the United States is a company specializing in the development of grinding technology. Initially, they offered electroplated CBN grinding wheels for conventional machining centers. Now they have greatly expanded this technology and developed a composite grinding machining center with ceramic grinding wheels in addition to galvanized CBN grinding. Now whenever it is machining hard nickel alloy materials, grinding has become the primary roughing process in addition to the traditional final finishing. This is a striking innovation, enabling flexible manufacturing that can be machined and ground on a single machine.
Makino uses a standard machining center platform and offers an exclusive package of grinding options. In addition to electroplated CBN wheels, the company now offers a grinding option package using ceramic grinding wheels. In addition, Makino has added special cooling circuits and wheel grinding capabilities to support the grinding function. The second axis of the machine is equipped with a diamond grinding roller to support continuous grinding, which includes continuous and intermittent grinding systems fixed to the work area of the machine. This continuous grinding capability greatly increases productivity and quality because sharp abrasive particles are continuously exposed and the wheel has very good shape retention. The change of the grinding wheel profile can be done by calling different grinding rollers and grinding wheels in the tool magazine, which is similar to the way of changing the tool in the machining center.
An important controlling factor in the machining process is the use of coolant. If too much coolant is used, it is like a seaplane, and the workpiece tool contact is not good; if too little coolant is used, it will not only reduce the cutting speed, but also may burn the workpiece. So the machine has an additional set of nozzles for milling, plus spindle coolant if needed.
Makino installed a set of high-pressure nozzles 360° around the perimeter of the grinding wheel. This programmable nozzle is used to inject high-pressure coolant into a perforated wheel at the front of the grinding wheel. Centrifugal force pushes the liquid out of the wheel, and enough liquid will flush the wear debris out. wheels, thereby keeping the workpiece cool.