Glebar Company, Ramsey, NJ — The TF-9D Micro-grinder from Glebar Company helps guidewire manufacturers to improve production rates, provides expanded capability to grind long tapers in one operation, and reduces setup times.
Shorter work wheels prevent generating tapers on guidewires over 4” requiring multiple setups to generate the shape. The manual setup requires a high level of skill, and the variability in setup procedure dictates the yield per setup. In addition, strapped upper and lower slides require a skilled technician to adjust them and can affect the accuracy of the grind. With multiple setups needed to generate the required taper over 4”, production output is limited.
The TF-9D uses servo motor driven upper and lower slides which can be independently adjusted through the HMI. Adjusting the slides independently provides greater accuracy when positioning the regulating wheel and sizing the work rest blade. Slides are positioned to 0.1 micron resolution. This provides consistency and predictability in set up, especially when sizing the work rest blade.
Operators can use the intuitive touchscreen HMI to easily set the automatic dressing sequence for both the regulating wheel and the work wheel. It also stores multiple setups for quick retrieval and changeover.
Once in production, the 8-5/8″ diameter work wheel on the TF-9D grinds shapes up to 7.8” per cycle while maintaining quality and repeatability.
The TF-9D can be paired with a feeding system that automatically picks wires out of a bin, loads them into the machine, and unloads a finished part. Typical Glebar installations have one operator running three or more machines because of the reliability of the automation and grinder performance.
“During grinding the TF-9D automatically stages the next part and unloads the finished part,” explained John Bannayan, CTO at Glebar. “In testing, a 5” single tapered wire ran at 10 seconds per piece, which included loading, grinding, and unloading.”
The TF-9D also features an enclosure in compliance with CE requirements and has interlock capability to ensure a clean environment and operator safety. Glebar has been innovating solutions to grind guidewires for over 50 years. For more information on their guidewire and medical grinding solutions, visit the applications library on
their website.
To learn more about the TF-9D, read the case study, watch the video, or email info@www.glebar.com.
About Glebar Company
Glebar Company (www.www.glebar.com) is an innovative, vertically integrated, process improvement company that designs and configures its standard platform of modular precision centerless grinding machine systems to provide turnkey, custom solutions for its customers. The company focuses on delivering a process to its customers while maximizing customer return on investment. Founded in 1952, Glebar serves companies all over the world, across many market segments including medical, industrial, aerospace, automotive, consumer goods, and mining. Its machines are known for their precision, longevity, flexibility, and efficiency.
Glebar machines are made to the highest quality and safety standards and are backed by a 24/7 customer service operation which includes a team of technicians, design engineers, and customer service representatives. The company also stocks stand-by inventory of critical parts and tooling for next-day delivery in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. It employs a dedicated applications team conducting research and development activities, customer process enhancement, and pushing the limits of grinding wheel technology. Glebar is an ISO 9001:2015 Certified Company and is ITAR Registered.
In 2020 Glebar Company acquired Electrochemical Grinding (ECG) technology solutions leader Tridex Technology. Both companies offer innovative turnkey manufacturing solutions designed to improve cycle times, maintain quality levels, and allow operators to easily set up and run multiple machines.
For more information about Glebar, call (201)-337-1500, visit www.www.glebar.com or send an email to info@www.glebar.com.
