CNC sharpener cuts cost of restoring drill bits
1 min read
The XPS-16 4-axis CNC bench-top drill sharpener, manufactured in the USA by Darex and available from 1st MTA, can restore high performance drills in a one-touch operation. The heavy duty unit costs the equivalent of 100 radial split point carbide drills, yet even unskilled operators can sharpen more than 400 of them in a day, claims in the UK distributor.
The Darex XPS-16 can process a wide variety of conical, four facet, split point and radius split point twist drills with angles from 90 to 150°, including high speed steel, cobalt, solid carbide and coated tools from 51 to 254 mm long and 3 to 16 mm diameter.
The blunt drill is inserted into the mains-powered XPS-16's chuck and the required standard or custom type of drill point is selected, using a simple LCD touch-screen panel. On initiation of the sharpening cycle, three independent electronic sensors automatically detect the drill's length and diameter, precisely locate the cutting edge and calculate the web thickness. The unit then sharpens the drill and applies the required split point form in one seamless operation without operator involvement. It will also hone carbide drill edges as part of the automatic process.
User-specific drill sharpening programmes can be easily created and stored along with the pre-installed standard programs. The XPS-16 also incorporates Darex's latest 'grind motion control' system, which detects excess material on a blunt drill bit. This enables the grinding feed rate to be adjusted automatically, both to prevent burning and to provide optimum sharpening performance.
The sharpener incorporates a vacuum filtration system to capture grit and airborne contaminants such as carbide dust. Its computer control includes advanced diagnostic software that alerts operators to potential problems during the sharpening cycle.
For low maintenance and long operational life the XPS-16 features long-lasting superabrasive-plated grinding wheels, 180 grit cubic boron nitride for HSS drills and 220 grit diamond for carbide tools, together with lifetime-lubricated seals. Components are modular for easy in-house calibration and service.
