Cutting tools from 3 to 200mm in diameter and up to 700 mm long — and with cutting edge up to 580mm long — can be processed on the new Walter Helitronic Vision 700 L tool grinder from Kenilworth-based Walter Ewag UK Ltd (www.walter-machines.com), a member of the United Grinding Group.

Rotary tools such as milling cutters, drills and step drills — as well as wood-working and profiling tools made of carbide, HSS, ceramic, cermet and CBN — can be accommodated by this machine, which features Walter’s proven kinematic design concept, along with a mineral cast machine base and a highly rigid gantry. Furthermore, the five-axis Vision 700 L features high-specification linear motors and torque motors — plus a 35kW 10,500rev/min spindle motor.

Grinding wheels up to 254mm in diameter can be changed by the six-station wheel-changer (12- and 24-station units are available as an option); a Fanuc six-axis robot provides for the automatic loading and unloading of tools.

Walter’s Helitronic Tool Studio software is supplied as standard for the Fanuc CNC; and when this is used with the system’s plug-in Feedrate Optimiser routines, total grinding times and non-productive times can be significantly reduced.