Nottingham-based Vollmer UK Ltd (www.vollmer-group.com) has launched its CHX 840 grinding machine.

Capable of sharpening the tooth face and top face of circular saw blades in one set-up, this machine is aimed at sawmill operators and furniture makers that process wood, aluminium or metal.

It is suitable for machining carbide-tipped circular saw blades with diameters up to 840mm. Also available is the CHX 1300, which can process circular saw blades with diameters up to 1,300mm.

With five CNC axes, the CHX 840 can machine blades with all common tooth geometries, including axial angle and group tooth designs; and thanks to a double grinding wheel, the sharpening of tooth face and top face is undertaken in a single set-up, thus reducing set-up times.

A transverse feed pawl with pneumatic lifting capability also allows the machining of clamping segments and rings.

Vollmer offers different levels of automation for the CHX 840. For example, the machine can be specified with an automatic set-up process, a diameter-detection device and an acoustic touch sensor.

With the feed pawl’s integrated sensor system, the input of tooth pitch is no longer necessary, while the automatic setting of the hook and clearance angles avoids any potential for adjustment errors.

Meanwhile, the company’s HS solution provides automatic loading of the CHX for unmanned operation for up to 7hr.

With HS in place, programming and preparation of the saw blade stack are possible during machine operation; and thanks to a maximum saw blade stack height of 180mm, the automatic loading system can hold up to 25 saw blades.

They are stacked with separating layers, thereby avoiding tooth breakage and blade damage.

The operating concept of the CHX 840 is based on the Vollmer multi-function hand-wheel, which facilitates the selection and movement of axes, and avoids operating errors.

The hand-wheel is also used as a potentiometer to perform speed adjustments in automatic mode.