Foreword
Today's machining industry demands general-purpose grinding machines that balance high precision, high speed, and high flexibility with the highest possible level of automation. That doesn't seem enough; these machine tools must also be simple and safe to operate. And of course, their cost cannot be excessive. The only thing grinding machine manufacturers can do is utilize the best components available on the market to achieve these goals.
The new control system for the BUBE50/1000 CNC general-purpose cylindrical grinding machine was developed jointly by Fermat and B&R.
FermatMachinery has been manufacturing high-precision CNC cylindrical grinding machines since 2007, primarily serving markets in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and the United States, and manufacturing and selling approximately 30 machines annually.
Fermat's ability to provide high-quality machines and excellent service is attributed to its advanced production facilities, particularly its vast production workshops equipped with modern precision manufacturing equipment such as gantry milling machines, drilling machines, and grinding machines. All basic mechanical components of the company's machines are manufactured in-house, while outsourced parts are sourced from globally renowned manufacturers. The overall quality of products and services is guaranteed through its in-house design department, extensive sales network, and professional service department.
Performance and availability
Fermat has always been a leader in CNC grinding technology. At the 2013 EMO exhibition in Hanover, the company showcased its new BUBE50/1000 CNC grinding machine, developed in collaboration with B&R. This innovative grinding machine features dual rotary grinding heads and variable speed control, enabling grinding of external, internal, and conical surfaces from both longitudinal and transverse directions. It can also grind workpieces using the side of the grinding wheel. Suitable for single-piece and small-batch production, it can perform precision grinding on workpieces weighing up to 500 kg, as well as economical grinding for mass production.
The BUBE50/1000CNC grinding machine features a workspace with dual rotary grinding heads, hydrodynamic bearings, and variable speed control.
The BUBE50/1000 CNC grinding machine meets increasing performance requirements—achieving an accuracy of 0.002 mm—while being fully functional and easy to operate. The control system is based on the B&R PowerPanel, which integrates control and display, and the B&R ACOPOSmulti servo drives for motion control. Integrating all machine control technologies onto a single platform greatly enhances usability, while also allowing for customization of the open control hardware and software to suit any specific grinding process according to customer requirements.
Innovative open control system
The new CNC system used in the BUBE50/1000 CNC grinding machine was developed in collaboration with B&R, leveraging the comprehensive hardware and software expertise offered by this automation specialist in the field. Regarding the PLC/HMI/CNC, the openness of the software allows for precise customization of the control system to maximize end-user operational efficiency.
Therefore, the user interface enables rapid debugging, making operation and maintenance both safe and easy – the openness of CNC programs allows users to create their own programs using G-code.
Currently, the core of CNC control systems is the realization of three-axis linkage – two translational axes (x and y) and one rotary axis (c). Many different profiles, such as arcs, convex/concave surfaces, cones, spheres, etc., can be machined in this way.
The control hardware meets all the industry's most stringent requirements for safety, compactness, and modularity, and it can also connect to an external linear encoder. Furthermore, the machine's x-axis is equipped with an external linear encoder that connects directly to ACOPOSmulti, maximizing positioning accuracy.
Cooperation as the foundation of innovation
The competitiveness of the BUBE50/1000 CNC grinding machine lies in its advanced components. "The expertise of B&R specialists, combined with our engineers' years of industry experience, has enabled us to develop an outstanding control system that can handle the most complex grinding tasks," said Michal Bureš from Fermat.
"The new control system enables Fermat to easily create customized configurations of grinding machines to meet customer needs while ensuring ease of use. Our close collaboration with B&R's development department has given us tremendous potential for future-oriented innovation."
