Glebar Company, Ramsey, NJ, August 31, 2020 — Zirconium is commonly used in applications where the properties of stainless steel are not sufficient. It is popular in nuclear energy plants because of its high tolerability to the coolant used for fuel cells. Zirconium tubing is used for cladding, which protects the fuel rods from corroding when exposed to the coolant.
Commonly, zirconium tubes are cut one at a time on a lathe using carbide tools. A lathe cutoff leaves burrs, requiring additional operations to achieve a smooth surface finish. Carbide tooling is expensive and wears quickly when cutting zirconium. A dull carbide tool can cause the material to overheat and catch fire potentially posing a safety risk.
An alternative to using a lathe is to cut the tubes using electrochemical grinding (ECG). By combining abrasive grinding and electrochemical erosion, ECG leaves the tubes burr-free, eliminating the need for deburring.
The CS1-E Burr-Free Electrochemical Cutoff can cut tubes from 0.012” – 3.15” in diameter. Depending on their diameter, multiple tubes can be cut burr-free per cycle on the CS1-E.
Tom Travia, Director of Sales, ECG, at Glebar explained, “Our engineers conducted a test using 3/8” diameter tubes. The CS1-E cut five tubes burr-free in a cycle time of 40 seconds, gaining as much as 90% in productivity over the predicate process with no additional finishing required.”
ECG produces very little heat decreasing any safety risk posed by typical machining. For added safety, the CS1-E can be fitted with a fire suppression system.
For more information on the CS1-E visit Glebar’s website, send an email, or call (201) 337-1500.
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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. Every machine is backed by a 24/7 customer service operation which includes a team of technicians, design engineers, and customer service representatives. The company also stocks a 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 solution leaders Tridex Technology and Everite. 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, send an email to info@www.glebar.com, or visit www.www.glebar.com.
