1st Machine Tool Accessories has cut 20 per cent from the price of its Darex XPS-16 CNC drill sharpener for the rest of the year.

There will also be a 90 deg upgrade package worth GBP998.00 with every XPS-16 ordered Having the XPS-16 available in-house offers users a rapid payback Whether replacing tools or sending them out to be resharpened, the costs of purchasing, issuing payment and stocktaking are eliminated.

In many machine shops, it is the most experienced (and expensive) employees who are asked to resharpen ‘emergency’ drills by hand.

The unit will therefore pay for itself many times over in a short period of time.

Representing the ultimate in precision, simplicity and productivity, the XPS-16 offers sophisticated CNC four-axis sharpening of a wide range of twin-flute drill-point types - enabling it to quickly reproduce the complex, high quality profiles found on premium HSS, cobalt and carbide drills.

Its easy-to-learn touchscreen interface allows inexperienced users to produce perfectly resharpened drills in seconds.

To underline the system’s capabilities and ease of operation, 1st MTA will also arrange free demonstrations of the XPS-16 at customers’ premises on request.

Suitable for conical, four facet, split point and radius split-point bits with angles from 118-150 deg as standard, the XPS-16 will sharpen drills from 3-16mm diameter and 50-220mm long.

It has been designed specifically for heavy-duty use within busy machine shop environments and is capable of sharpening more than 400 drills a day.

This drill sharpener’s automatic cycle hones and deburrs the cutting edge of carbide drills in less than one minute, extending tool life and maximising drill-bit machining accuracy.

In operation, the XPS-16 allows up to 25 user-specific drill-point geometries to be easily programmed and stored for future use.

It also incorporates Darex’s latest Grind Motion Control system, which monitors the load on the grinding wheel and automatically adjusts feed and speed while keeping the drills cool.

Electroplated super-abrasive wheels are included - CBN for sharpening HSS drills and Diamond for carbide drills - to ensure a smooth finish.

Metal removal is set at a minimum to extend drill life; this can be overridden by up to 0.50mm if necessary to compensate for gouges or damaged edges.

Lifetime-lubricated seals ensure low maintenance and a long service life.

The vacuum filtration system eliminates grit and airborne contaminants such as carbide dust, keeping the machine clean while acting as a coolant.

In addition, advanced diagnostic software alerts operators to potential problems during the sharpening cycle.

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