ANCA Inc. will demonstrate the advantages of investing in a technologically advanced future at IMTS 2022.
Truly integrated manufacturing with AIMS
The ANCA Integrated Manufacturing System (AIMS) optimizes cutting tool production through streamlined manufacturing, automation, and connectivity. With AIMS, customers can achieve continuous, unattended production that reduces non-productive machine time with smart automation that connects sequential tool production processes and offers connectivity across the factory.
This is Industry 4.0. The technology considers a factory a single machine rather than separating it into process elements to bring together one ecosystem and builds it to be efficient as possible. AIMS, being a modular solution, is deployed in stages, allowing for a smooth transition from traditional to automated and integrated manufacturing.
An operational manufacturing cell will be displayed at IMTS, demonstrating an automatic process of tool manufacturing from blanks to ground tools. The MX7 ULTRA capable of manufacturing high quality cutting tools, along with an AutoSet job preparation station, an AutoLine for pallet and tool transfer, and an AutoFetch robot responsible for material transfer between processes, will be displayed.
ANCA Tool of the Year 2022 winners announced at IMTS
The fifth #ANCATooloftheYear2022 competition winners will be announced live at IMTS. The contest celebrates the deep experience and creativity of tool manufacturers across a highly skilled grinding industry.
“Reviewing Tool of the Year entries I am always in awe of the passion and talent of customers that push our machines to their limits and create tooling masterpieces,” Pat Boland, ANCA co-founder said.
Presenting the CPX In-Process OD measure system
The CPX in-process OD measurement system is a quality control system that monitors and controls the OD of ground blanks within a batch production.
Batch grinding on a CPX with high material removal rates and tight tolerances is a basic function of the machine. The OD measurement system takes it further by utilizing the statistical process control (SPC) feature that comes standard with OD measurement software.
The OD measurement system is permanently mounted inside the machine and only called upon when required, based on set tolerances and frequency of measurement, an accurate in-process measurement and compensation is applied to maintain the blank OD to the nominal diameter.
The system is flexible with the ability to handle multiple diameters in one setup, making it perfect for complex blank geometries/shapes and longer batch runs.
AutoMarkX: ANCA’s automatic laser marking station
AutoMarkX is an automatic stand-alone laser marking station replacing manual and labor-intensive processes. It’s AIMS ready, meaning it can be used as a standalone machine or integrated to your lights out, unmanned AIMS manufacturing cell with automatic pallet transfer using AutoFetch robot.
The AutoMarkX eliminates the need for manual laser marking which is a repetitive and labor-intensive job that could be automated. By avoiding manual handling, tool quality is protected by eliminating risk of chipping.
AutoMarkX accepts up to two full pallets of tools, meaning a large batch of tools unmanned can be marked. Flexible marking means the message could be etched on a single side of the shank or, using the AMX’s new rotary workholding, on the opposite sides of the shank as well as at the end of tool. This feature will be demonstrated for the first time at IMTS.
GCX Linear: gear up for the EV revolution
Driven by the automotive industry's electrification and the general rise of e-mobility, the demand for skiving cutters has seen 30% year on year growth. The GCX Linear provides a solution for customers to tap into this developing market, including the ability to produce skiving cutters, shaper cutters, and regrinding of hobs. It offers advanced stand-alone software to design and optimize the tool, neatly interfaced with the gear tool package inside ANCA's renowned ToolRoom software.
The machine is designed for accuracy with features including all axes with LinX linear motors and an enhanced headstock. GCX Linear boasts a series of technologies: AEMS dressing, MTC on grinding spindle and dresser spindle, integrated gear tool measurement and direct compensation – setting the new standard for producing skiving tools that achieve the highest DIN AA quality class.
ANCA developed a world-first integrated gear tool measurement system, which enables the grinding-measuring-compensation to be done in the machine. This is the only closed-loop solution in the market and will be on display at IMTS as part of the skiving cutter production process on GCX Linear.
New ToolRoom and CIM3D Preview
Besides demonstrations on ANCA’s ToolRoom and CIM3D software, visitors will have a preview of the upcoming RN35 release.
Other features include in-process measurement of tool geometries, enhancement to profile software as well as several more.
The FX7 is fitted with ANCA’s dynamic tool loading system, which is ideal for customers manufacturing or regrinding a wide, varied range of tools in small to medium size batches. The tool management system with RFID links unique tool programs to the correct tool in a loader pallet. This works in conjunction with automated Schunk collet changing to allow unattended grinding of random tool diameters and types.
The FX7 robot loader changes wheel packs based on individual tool grinding program linked to the RFID coding. With a six-station wheel changer and the ability to change collets the ANCA FX7 with RFID is the ultimate automation package.
The FX7 is fitted with the LaserUltra, for automated post process tool measurement within the grinding machine itself. Measuring cutter profile and diameter to +/-0.002mm, LaserUltra can provide compensation feedback to ensure accuracy and consistency with unattended tool grinding operations.