GRINDING, HONING, SURFACE FINISHING TOOL REGRINDING & SHEET METAL SURFACE FINISHING
Chaos & order
Schunk Präzisionswerkzeuge is using
mixed batch regrinding with ANCA
RFID workfl ow to support automated
loading of a ‘chaotic’ sequence
of cutting tools. Inset: The user's
associated planning board system
Cutting tool regrinding that accommodates a chaotic workfl ow
is being supported by ANCA technology in Germany; laser-cut plate
surface fi nishing delivered by Timesavers' technology in the UK
German cutting tool specialist Schunk
Präzisionswerkzeuge is using mixed
batch regrinding with ANCA RFID
work ow to support automated loading of a
‘chaotic’ sequence of cutting tools. The 15-
man business derives 60% of its turnover
from new tools, with resharpening service,
including edge preparation and re-coating,
the remainder.
Schunk Präzisionswerkzeuge was already
using an ANCA ( www.is.gd/sibuja ) MX7
grinding machine with RFID work ow, and
additionally has practiced chaotic regrinding
for mixed customer batches using Manutec
Siemens robots on three other different
grinding machines.
Indeed, regrinding with mixed batches of
tools has been practiced at Schunk for more
than 20 years and the employees are used
to the exibility of the chaotic system. For
the owners, it translates into increased
productivity, being able to grind a mixed
batch of tools unattended. This ‘industrial’
way of thinking was the main driver for
investing in an ANCA MX7 in 2017. Schunk
is now investing in a second ANCA MX7
expanding the existing RFID work ow.
For Christian Schunk it was important to
retain the chaotic loading capability and at
the same time bene t from the increased
accuracy of collet changing. Schunk
previously worked as per customer order,
loading all diameters of one customer
together – now it has changed to a fully
chaotic loading system, independent from
the actual customer order.
To ‘structure the chaos’ of mixed tool
batches and multiple jobs, Christian Schunk
has developed his own storage system to
sort all tools of a customer order on a
common tool board. The board has a label
and a barcode containing all relevant job
information like tool type, number of tools,
due date, and other relevant data, and
serves to re-collect the tools after grinding
for each customer order.
Schunk has not only implemented the
ANCA RFID work ow for chaotic resharpening
but also uses the production data in a digital
scheduling board showing the status for
each job ticket.
In more detail, any number and
combination of tools from different
customers can be prepared for regrinding at
a dedicated programming station. Every tool
gets assessed at the station, skilled
operators then select and modify the
required grinding program. The individual
program is then coded onto an RFID
toolholder and subsequently the toolholder
and tool will be placed in a pallet for the
grinding machine. Every RFID toolholder
receives the customer name and job
number, so it’s easy to nd the original
customer order after grinding.
Upon the return of the tools after
regrinding, the RFID information gets read
out and the tool will be returned to its
original customer order. The RFID toolholder
goes back into storage and can be used for
another job in the future.
In production, the RFID information is
scanned and the tool grind le is loaded;
all grinding parameters, required wheel pack
changes or collet size changes are executed
automatically.
For the delivery of the second ANCA MX7,
Schunk and ANCA are working on an
expanded RFID work ow that will
accommodate larger tool diameters up
25 mm.
Christian Schunk explains: “It makes
sense to keep collet changes at a minimum,
which means tools usually get sorted by
diameter and tool type, like square endmills,
ballnose end-mills or drills. This way
we are not only optimising cycle times, but it
also extends the life of collets, and we save
the collet adapter. Most importantly, it
contributes to better run-out.”
Christian Schunk also makes sure the
machines are utilised at a maximum,
therefore the employees will start on
www.machinery.co.uk | MachineryMagazine | @MachineryTweets | September 2020 19
/sibuja
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