3D contour grinding breakthrough by ANCA

Successful testing on contoured medical products showed that grinding not only produced a better surface finish than milling, but also significantly reduced manufacturing time. One component was ground from a blank in less than nine minutes versus traditional milling’s two hours. Limitations of conventional programming techniques have generally prevented complex contours from being ground. Milling was the most common process used to create complex components such as turbine blade aerofoils, artificial knee implants and medical tools. But as new parts requiring even greater accuracy and surface finish appeared, the need to manufacture to high-precision tolerances meant that a solution for grinding had to be found. Working together with ANCA engineers, customers supply a 3D computer model, which is then imported into UG (NX3) and a grinding path created. The data from the path is translated into an NC program via an ANCA post processor program. The NC program can be loaded onto any ANCA machine that is suitable for the application. Customers with access to a UG license and the right training can create their own programs by purchasing the post processor from ANCA. Alternatively, customers can contract ANCA to create the NC grinding program by supplying their 3D model or component details.