Ultra-precise helical pump screw grinding centre joins PTG Holroyd HG range

Called the HG200, the new machine has been developed to meet the needs of manufacturers producing pump screws, as well as those grinding the smaller helical components that are typically used in the manufacture of more compact refrigeration and air compressors.

Utilising PTG Holroyd's recently developed modular HG350 platform, the HG200 will precision grind helical gears and pump screws of up to 200 mm in diameter, with a profile of up to 50 mm wide, 35 mm maximum depth and 200 kg in weight.

"Unlike our largest HG Series machine, the HG500 rotor grinding centre which will precision grind helical profiles of up to 510 mm in diameter and therefore requires a bespoke machine bed," says Mark Curran, sales director at PTG Holroyd, "for smaller models such as the new HG200, our aim is to use the modular platform from the HG350. In addition to streamlining build time, this approach also allows our customers to benefit from maximum flexibility when specifying their profile grinding requirements. This is thanks to the platform being available in gear, rotor, worm and now, pump screw configurations."

The next natural progression in PTG Holroyd Precision's HG Series, the HG200 features many of the key attributes that have made HG models such a huge success. As standard, for example, HG200 machines will be controlled by Siemens SINUMERIK ONE CNC. PTG Holroyd was the first UK machine tool manufacturer to embrace the benefits of Siemens' latest control technology when it was launched and, as such, worked closely with the control systems provider to tailor the CNC's capabilities to its precise needs.

To simplify the production of even the most complex of helical components, the new HG200 features an integrated Renishaw OSP 60 scanning probe with SPRINT technology for automatic in-process corrections, or via an associated component measuring machine. "We have worked closely with Renishaw and Siemens to be the first machine tool manufacturer to integrate automatic calibration using the SPRINT probe," concludes Curran.

All of PTG Holroyd Precision's HG Series helical profile grinding centres feature the high power required for deep grinding operations, while a specially developed extended machine bed allows screws and worm shafts of additional length to be accommodated. IO-Link communication technology is available, as is RFID scanning - an option that will be particularly suitable for machines destined for production cells, by helping ensure that virtually any component or tooling item that needs to be switched between manufacturing cycles is correctly changed for each gear grinding operation. On-board features include

automatic coordinate adjustment, in-cycle wheel dressing, integrated profile management and coordinate measurement.