Innovative Grinding Technology, Automation Solutions

(Top row, left to right) New APS Robotic Automation Cell and New Norton Quantum Prime Grinding Wheels. (Bottom row, left to right) Norton Xtrimium Worm Grinding Wheel, Norton Winter Paradigm Wheel and Norton Winter Vitron7 Wheel. Photo Credit: Saint-Gobain Abrasives

Saint-Gobain Abrasives, one of the world’s largest abrasives manufacturers, is highlighting a wide range of high performance, innovative production grinding wheels and technology. To be shown for the first time at a major event, Norton Quantum Prime Grinding Wheels feature new, proprietary nano-crystalline ceramic grain which boasts productivity gains across a wide range of applications. The new Quantum Prime grain reportedly delivers high grinding efficiency and part quality, as well as significantly longer wheel life than traditional ceramic grains.

In addition, the company displays its high-performance Norton Ideal-Prime Internal Diameter Grinding Wheels for precision applications, which feature the Quantum Prime nano-crystalline ceramic grain. The combination of the micro-fracture properties of the new ceramic grain from Saint-Gobain Abrasives and the retention capability of the advanced bond is said to ensure long wheel life, excellent grinding efficiency and consistent part quality with superior surface finishes, resulting in cost savings of 30% and more.

Also being highlighted is a new Abrasive Process Solutions (APS) Program which provides custom grinding expertise by helping customers determine the most optimal grinding or finishing solutions for the application at hand. A new APS Robotic Automation Cell is at the core of the new program, located at the Higgins Grinding Technology Center in Northborough, Massachusetts. The APS team provides abrasive process development, optimization, automation and in-house testing. APS services encompass the testing and optimization of new abrasives, improving quality and/or throughput and exploring customized processes.

Additional key Norton and Norton Winter grinding technologies to be showcased include Paradigm Plus “Next Generation” Diamond Wheels, which feature new premium grain technology that complements a brittle metal bond to deliver even higher grinding performance on carbide round tools and periphery grinding on carbide and cermet inserts. Also being debuted are G-Force Plus next-generation wheels, which feature premium grain technology with an improved hybrid bond technology.

Also debuting are new NORaX N889 Micro-Structured Abrasive Belts, featuring a precise, flexible design for producing consistent, fine part finishes for a range of industry applications. The new belts are said to have up to 30% better performance compared with other belts in their class.

For the high-performance external grinding of cam, crankshafts and internal grinding applications in automotive and bearing industries, the company displays its Vitron7 cBN Grinding Wheels, which feature a high-precision vitrified bond.