son-x UTS one Ultrasonic Tooling System

Can a diamond tool cut steel? This has been a frequently asked question for several decades during which Ultra-Precision Machining technology has evolved.

 

   

 

While in general the answer until now has been ‘no’, an innovative company located in Aachen, Germany has    developed and refined ultrasonic machining technology and know-how that enables the efficient diamond machining of optical quality surfaces in      hardened steel, without the need of a nickel phosphor coating. The son-x UTS one Ultrasonic Tooling System also enables the direct  diamond  machining of  various glass-type materials, to
Ultra-Precision levels of accuracy.  

                   

 

 

 

 

 

Show Preview

 

Undoubtedly the largest show in the  Electro-optics exhibition calendar, both Contour and Technodiamant will be at SPIE Photonics West, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, USA from 24th - 26th  January 2012.  Come visit us - North Hall booth #5228.

 

 

           

The

       January 2012

   EDGE

 www.contour-diamonds.com                    www.clubCFT.com 

 www.technodiamant.com                   www.clubTDA.com 

Grinding Wheels

 

Technodiamant produces, besides high quality mono and polycrystal cutting tools, both metal and resin bonded   grinding wheels, using only the best diamond and CBN        powders.  Diamond drills and countersinkers are also        available to further satisfy the specific needs of the glass processing  industry, with applications ranging from automotive windscreens toprecision optics, also mirrors and float glass.

 

 

 

Employee Spotlight

Wim Koop

 

Following his graduation in the early ’90’s Wim started working at Technodiamant in Almere as an engineer within the Design and Engineering department, progressively moving into a role to Manage the production of diamond cutting tools, a position he held for more than 10 years.

In 2010 Wim took a sabbatical of one year to take the         opportunity to travel the world with his wife, Irene.  Their adventure which took in some 23 countries and a total of 112,350km is chronicled in a weblog www.wimenirene.nl.  

 

In 2011Technodiamant were pleased to welcome Wim back to join the sales team and to provide general       management support.

 

In his spare time Wim enjoys hiking and playing squash, while he and Irene continue to enjoy to travel.

 

Diamond Ball-end Milling Tools get Smaller

 

In response to an increasing demand for
ever smaller micro-milled lens arrays, Contour has been able to consistently produce controlled and non-controlled Ball-end mills with radii less than 100µm.  The diamonds position relative to the tool shanks axis of rotation can be held to an accuracy within 1µm. 

The piezo driven ultrasonic system generates a precisely controlled linear movement of the diamond tool in the cutting direction, with a frequency in excess of 80,000Hz.  The UTS one can be integrated into practically any Ultra-Precision     machining system and includes a micro height adjustment where required.

 

Applications include for example steel mould inserts used in the production of ophthalmic lenses and consumer    optics.  For more information visit www.son-x.com

 

Contour is delighted to have been selected as the           preferred diamond tool supplier by son-x GmbH.

All for a Good Cause

 

During the month of November a group of employees from Contour UK proudly grew moustaches, with varying degrees of success, but all in aid of ‘Movember’, a charity dedicated to mens health and in particular conditions such as prostate cancer.   The so-called Mo Bros were Jason     Langlais, Fraser Britten, Lloyd Elliot, Adam Butler, Paul Herbert and Maurice Heaphy.

 

A standard product range is offered, in addition to more application specific options with a vast choice of bonds, grit type, size, concentration, and edge profiles.  Stainless Steel bodies are used for certain applications. 

 

Technodiamant also produces an extensive range  of  both standard and custom made dressing tools, to complement its grinding wheel product range.