WAFIOS G 450 Spring End Grinding Machine – The Success Story Continues with the Introduction of the Two-Plate Variant

Fig. 1 New two-plate variant of the WAFIOS G 450 spring end grinding machine

Fig. 2 Active process cooling and "in-process" spring length measurement included as standard in the WAFIOS G 450 series

ollowing the success of the one-plate variant last year, WAFIOS is now introducing the two-plate variant of its G 450 spring end grinding machine. As with the G6 series, which was introduced in 2012, this latest innovation aims to strengthen the company's market position in relation to spring end grinding.

For the first time in the history of WAFIOS, the entire production and assembly process was transferred to the company's own production plant in Zhangjiagang, China. Meanwhile, the development and design work, as well as the quality management checks continued to be carried out at the parent plant in Reutlingen.

As is the case with other WAFIOS machines, the G 450 is installed with the latest version of the WAFIOS WPS EasyWay 3.2 control program. Easy to use and boasting a high level of operational safety, WPS 3.2 EasyWay is also ready for operation in future Industry 4.0 applications, such as predictive maintenance. Successful features of the G6 series have also been adopted and refined in the new G 450, including iQtemperature and the particulate deflector. With iQtemperature, the temperature of the workpieces can be measured and the process instructions controlled accordingly while the machine is "in process" - i.e., during the grinding process. This significantly increases production rates while also guaranteeing that quality standards are met. Alongside this patented unique selling point, the machines also include the WAFIOS particulate deflector, a special coating of the extraction channel that effectively minimizes soiling, grinding deposits, and other dirt, thereby reducing both maintenance and repair costs. In contrast to previous models such as the FEL 62, the dressing units in all WAFIOS grinding machines have been designed as slide solutions from the latest generation, leading to increased rigidity and improved dressing results.

The basic scope of the machine has also been enhanced in comparison to the previous model, meaning that even the standard version now constitutes a fully functioning machine capable of carrying out the majority of applications commonly required in the industry, including spring length measurement and active process cooling. While the former measures the uncoiled spring lengths at the end of the grinding process to guarantee the minimum batch tolerance, active process cooling ensures the safe removal of the grinding deposit in the grinding room.

In a nutshell, the main technical features of the comprehensive standard equipment package comprise the WPS 3.2 EasyWay programming system, the specified options, and production and assembly at the WAFIOS plant in China based on the design expertise gathered by WAFIOS over many years. Taken together, these features make the WAFIOS G 450 spring end grinding machine an attractive proposition in terms of value for money.