Glebar Form Grinder Reduces Scrap Rates

Glebar’s fully automated PG-9DHD centerless form grinder

Glebar’s fully automated PG-9DHD Centerless Form Grinder was developed to decrease ceramic shaft scrap rates. Glebar partnered with a manufacturer that was looking to reduce its scrap rates and needed a process that integrates with its existing isostatic press to accurately handle and grind pre-sintered or green ceramic shafts without causing any chipping or breaking, thereby reducing scrap rates.

The result is the fully automated PG-9DHD Centerless Form Grinder. For this application, the PG-9DHD was equipped with a six-axis robot, inspection camera station, cleated conveyor and gantry. The six-axis robot senses and transfers six ceramic shafts from the press onto the cleated conveyor. Then, the shafts pass through a camera station to ensure they are free of defects. Lastly, the gantry feeds and removes two shafts from the grinder, reducing scrap and maximizing productivity.

The PG-9DHD removes 0.040" of stock material, 0.020" per side, while maintaining a tolerance of +/- 0.001". By grinding two shafts every six seconds, the grinder is able to keep up with the ceramic press. For operator safety and to achieve CE certification, this PG-9DHD features an enclosed grinding area and robot station. Glebar machines can grind most hard-to-turn materials such as carbon fiber, fiberglass (including G10), Teflon, Santoprene and polypropylene.