• Universal Machine Tools Mfg Co

Abrasive Cut-Off Machines For Foundries

Unimat has a number of models of cut-off machines for chopping off runners and risers of castings in steel and non-ferrous foundries. Fettling, or the removal of runners and risers from castings, has traditionally been a high-cost and time-consuming process. Unimat abrasive cut-off machines offer a clean and smooth cut very close to the casting body, thereby minimising the time spent in subsequent grinding or machining operations. The overall time spent in the fettling shop is drastically reduced. The machine is equipped with a job holding table which can slide in and out of the cutting area in order to facilitate loading and unloading of castings by crane from the top. This sliding movement is hydraulically controlled, allowing accurate positioning of the runners/risers beneath the cut-off wheel. The cutting feed of the wheel is also by hydraulic means, with options for fast/slow movement in order to minimise cycle time. The wheel head is made to oscillate with respect to the job being cut, thus reducing the heat generated during cutting and ensuring longer wheel life and better surface finish. The job holding tables has a T-slotted base plate for mounting different fixtures for holding castings of various shapes and sizes. Vertical and horizontal indexing tables with locking features are offered as accessories. These allow a wide variety of shapes and sizes of castings to be accommodated in the machine. Variations of the above model have facilities for job rotation, where the casting is continuously rotated during cutting of the runners and risers. This is particularly helpful with circular or ring-shaped castings, having runners/risers also arrayed in a circleas is the case with castings of various components of centrifugal pumps. Job rotation fur-ther speeds up the cutting process. All models are equipped with heavy-duty recirculating cooling systems for cooling the job and the abrasive wheel during cuttingthis gives greater wheel economy and a smooth cut surface. The machines are rugged and robustly constructed to minimise vibration and are suitable for typical foundry usage.