Ground-in bene ts
Manufacturers of bearings, gears and cutting tools are regular investors in the CNC grinding technology.
Steed Webzell has news about a number of installationss
The quest for further capacity, coupled
with the bene ts of CNC precision and
programming exibility, has resulted in
Hudders eld-based HB Bearings acquiring a
further Kellenberger Vista universal grinding
machine from Jones & Shipman Hardinge
(https://is.gd/uwusot).
Established almost 50 years ago, the
company focuses on very high precision, low
volume bearing production. “A highly skilled
workforce and a commitment to quality are
obviously vital, but we’ve always been
prepared to invest in state-of-the-art machine
tools and this latest Kellenberger investment
– our fourth CNC grinder – is testimony to
that,” explains HB managing director
Graham Hirst.
The investment coincides with another
major development at HB Bearings: the
acquisition of Gamet Bearings, a
manufacturer of super-precision taper roller
bearings, previously part of the 600 Group.
“We are relocating the Gamet operations
from Colchester to our Hudders eld site,
and further investment in high precision
grinding capacity will be necessary,” says
GRINDING, HONING & SURFACE FINISHING EAR TO THE GROUND
Hirst. “Due to 1.5 micron running accuracy
on Gamet products, we will be looking to
add more Vista CNC machines, such is our
con dence in them.”
At Hudders eld, HB currently runs three
Vista UR75/1000 CNC machines, now
joined by the latest Vista SE with 1,000 mm
between centres. Built on the footprint of the
UR75 but with enhancements to guarding
and the control package, the Vista SE
features a UR wheelhead for external,
internal and face grinding. The swivelling
wheelhead features pre-stressed, high
precision spindle bearings to ensure high
surface nish and long operational life.
A further example of the machine’s
progressive design is its suitability for
grinding between dead centres, and for
chucked work. HB has also speci ed a HF
dresser on the upper (X-axis) table.
“They are highly durable machines and
offer the sustained accuracy essential in our
business,” says Hirst. “Here, 5 micron is
the norm, but we can meet demands down
to 2 micron, if needed. Materials machined
are usually based on SAE 52100, although
HB Bearings now has
four Kellenberger Vista
CNC universal grinders
certain motorsport applications may require
more specialised bearing steel, such as
AMS6444. The common denominator is that
these materials are dif cult to machine,
especially with the micron tolerances
required, but the Kellenberger machines are
more than up to the challenge.”
While universal grinders provide the
exibility necessary to undertake a wide
scope of work, sometimes a dedicated
machine proves the best route to enhanced
productivity, as evidenced by Ricardo’s
recent £1.5 million investment in a
Klingelnberg spiral bevel grinder.
The Klingelnberg machine is now installed
and commissioned at Ricardo’s Midlands
Technical Centre in Leamington Spa, and is
producing gears and gear components for
the current range of motorsport and sports
car transmissions being developed by the
company, while simultaneously supporting
the development of products destined for
market release in the near future.
Klingelnberg machines are available in the
UK from Micronz (https://is.gd/ohequv).
Ricardo has also acquired design and
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