335Linear Tool & Cutter and Universal Grinding machine

In grinding medical components, shops are confronted with a vast array of parts, programming solutions, various machine platforms, and applications. Drills, reamers, femoral knees and heads, tibias, rasps and broaches, hip implants, and many more can be produced on only one reliable machine and programming platform.

For medical cutting tools/instruments, Schütte offers SIGSpro software packages to program and simulate simple and complex cutting tools by providing a high level of comfort in the programming platform as well for the safety of the products. Schütte stores all process-relevant information such as geometry data, tool data with part counter, speeds, and feeds in a secured data file container, crucial for a consistent, validated production. Our OPC UA and Industry 4.0 solutions ensure automated manufacturing processes can be monitored remotely by SCADA, MES, and ERP systems.

For more challenging parts like hip rasps/broaches, Schütte offers a CAD-CAM system for programming – from a blank to a finished product with all possible tooth patterns within a few easy to learn steps. The software permits online or offline programming but can restrict user interaction on the machine by setting different access levels to eliminate unauthorized changes to the process.

A unique feature in Schütte’s SIGSpro’s rasp/broach software is the ability to define and program a so-called “diamond tooth pattern” on a rasp/broach with a minimum of input parameters. This tooth pattern is characterized by a set of left- and right-handed helical cuts wrapping around the complex shape of this instrument. In most cases, these tooth patterns are defined in the part drawing by providing the number of helical cuts, a starting angle, and the tooth pitch. How the part will look thereafter is typically the task for an experienced CAD-CAM programmer – an added step.

The true challenge is to automatically calculate, with a simple button click, the variable helix angles of multiple tool paths and to maintain a constant tooth pitch. This capability quickly advanced the development of these products by elimination of protracted multi-loop steps of CAD modeling then CAM tool path generation. Within minutes, a part can be visualized in SIGSpro’s simulation, versus days and hours before.

The SIGSpro software can also simulate the full workpiece. The virtual model can be exported for rapid prototyping or to evaluate the tooth pattern design with the engineering team and your partners. Given feed rate parameters and the length of the cuts, the software determines the total cycle time, providing precise part cost for quoting the grinding service at an early stage of the manufacturing process.

Schütte’s highly stable 5-axis 335L universal CNC grinder delivers consistent, highly dynamic production and accuracy. All axes are direct drive; critical wear components like ball screws aren’t involved in the drive chain.

For very long parts with a high length-to-diameter ratio, the 335L provides a programmable steady rest-tailstock setup carried by a NC-controlled slide. Along with the 335L Schütte offers an automatic loader to enable high mix/low batch size or high mix/high batch production, with versatility and low changeover time.

For more information
www.schutteusa.com