This section provides an overview for universal grinders as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 17 universal grinder manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked universal grinder companies as of November, 2024: 1.I Machine Tools Corp., 2.HI-LIFE MACHINE TOOLS LIMITED, 3.Star Cutter Company.
Table of Contents
A universal grinder is a machine tool belonging to the cylindrical grinder family that allows a single machine to perform a wide range of rotary grinding operations with a high degree of versatility and flexibility. Therefore, as a unique feature of a universal grinder, the grinding wheel head and the headstock of the workpiece can be rotated freely during external grinding, and the angle can be changed at will, providing a wide working range.
In addition to external grinding, the machine can also be used for internal grinding, taper grinding, and end-face grinding.
Universal grinders are usually used to grind the external and internal surfaces of workpieces using a rotating grinding wheel. However, since universal grinders are characterized by their versatility among cylindrical grinders, they can also be used for workpieces that are tapered in shape, even though they are usually cylindrical in shape.
Compared to other centerless grinders, cylindrical grinders are often used when high accuracy is required, especially for the roundness of workpieces and processing dimensions for surface finishing.
Universal grinders are a type of cylindrical grinder, which explains why cylindrical grinders are capable of high-precision cutting.
Unlike centerless grinders, cylindrical grinders fix both ends of the workpiece with a spindle head or centerstock. Since rotary grinding is performed while the workpiece is firmly fixed (chucked), the grinding accuracy is higher than that of the centerless grinder, which has no center and is easily affected by the external shape and roundness of the workpiece.
Another reason for the high precision of grinding is the use of a grinding wheel.
The abrasive grain corresponds to the blade being sharpened. The worn abrasive grains fall off the rotating wheel, making room for new grains on the next surface. Therefore, the grinding wheel does not need to be reground like an end mill (drill). Another feature is that there is no need for regrinding, and high machining accuracy can be maintained.
Diamond particles and CBN grains with high hardness are generally used as abrasive materials. However, it is important to use different abrasive materials for different applications, as they are suited to different workpieces to be ground.
In addition, some universal grinders feature a double-swivel wheel head for greater flexibility in the grinding position. As for the dedicated equipment for internal grinding, the upward flip-up type is common, but there is also a rear-mounted type of wheel head that rotates the wheel head 180 degrees.
In order to improve the versatility of the grinding method, the spindle head must be switchable between rotating and fixed, and the rotational speed must be adjustable.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Star Cutter Company was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The company is an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer of tool grinders, and precision cutting tools, and a provider of tool services. The company’s tool grinding machines include the small-footprint NXT Tool Grinder and the scalable UTG Series Broach Grinder. The company’s precision cutting tools include bits, blanks, and preforms. The company also offers tool services including round tool reconditioning, gear tool resharpening, and tool engineering services. Tool engineering includes the design and manufacture of all aspects of tools from materials to size to coating.
JTEKT Toyoda Americas Corp., established in 1941, and headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA, is a manufacturer that specializes in producing machine tools and machining centers. Their product range includes CNC cylindrical grinders, horizontal and vertical machining centers, and grinding machines. These products cater to the automotive, aerospace, medical, energy, and general manufacturing sectors. JTEKT Toyoda is devoted to excellence and holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications, ensuring precision, and efficiency in machining operations for their customers.
DAES Group was founded in 1994 and operates out of Arlington, Texas. DAES is a service provider of aerospace and related components, serving commercial airlines, military, and MRO operations globally. DAES product list includes products used to provide engine tooling, heat treatment, landing gear construction, thermal spraying, and other components and functions. DAES services include both management and material support. Management support includes project management, consulting, training, technical assistance, and operations management. Material support includes installation, testing, maintenance, component repair, and facilities improvement.
Kaste Industrial Machine Sales, Inc., since 1971, has been a buyer, seller, and broker of metalworking machinery, auction, consignments, liquidations, and appraisals. The surplus machinery includes millers, presses, EDM brakes, vibratory finishers, and grinders for manufacturing and commercial industries. The company in King Street, Enfield, CT, offers “no hassle service” of setting up the Riggers & Freight lines for the delivery of all equipment purchased and is a member of the Association of Machinery and Equipment Appraisers, Machinery Dealers National Association and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
JTEKT was born from the merger of bearing maker Koyo Seiko and machine tool maker Toyoda Machine Works. JTEKT focuses on environmental sustainability to create automotive-specific components as well as industry-agnostic components including sensors, gears, displays, storage devices, and hydraulic units. JTEKT also creates and designs machine tools and equipment necessary for machine production. JTEKT is also developing "internet of everything" (IoE) solutions for modern industry.
Jeffer Machinery Co., Ltd is a Taiwan-based manufacturer of cutting grinding equipment specializing in the design and manufacture of sharpening machines of tool grinders and saw grinders in the machine industry since 1969. The company offers a wide range of standard type and automatic functions of grinding machines including Carbide Tool Grinder suitable for grinding all kinds of TCT tools such as molding cutter as well as Automatic Knife Grinder, and Profile Grinder for the plywood industry.
Hi-Life Machine Tools Ltd is an ISO 9001:2008 certified manufacturer and exporter of various types of Grinding Machines used in various industries including automobile and defense. The company was established in 1972 and is based in Ahmedabad, India. Hi-Life offers a wide range of products including Cylindrical Grinding Machines which come in various types such as CNC, Hydraulic or Universal, CNC, and Hydraulic Centerless Grinding Machines as well as Robotic & Gantry Type Automation for Grinding Machines. The company supplies customers worldwide including Germany and the United States.
TOP-WORK INDUSTRY CO., LTD., established in 1986 based in Taiwan, is a professional cutter grinding machines manufacturer. The company locates in Taichung with 6000 m2 plant area, specializes in the cutter and tool grinder manufacturing. It joined Palmary Group in 2017, and cooperated European NUMROTO tool grinding software in 2018. Its five-axis CNC tool grinding machine has been upgraded to provide customers with a series of complete tool grinding solutions. Its products also qualified ISO 9001-2015 and CE certification. Its CNC type and universal type tool grinder are popular around the world, being exported to US, China, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
Jiangsu Xianfeng Drying Engineering Co., Ltd., established in 1997 in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, is a manufacturer in the Chinese drying industry. The company provides safe, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly drying, granulation, mixing, and grinding equipment, catering to pharmaceutical, chemical, food, mineral production, electronics and other industries. Its products are applicable for treating many kinds of materials, such as powder, particle, flake, block, paste and liquid. It also exports to USA, Brazil, Japan, Korea, Indonesia and Philippines, etc., and is an executive member of the China Association for Pharmaceutical Equipment (CAPE) and the China General Machinery Drying Association.
Shigiya Machinery Works Ltd., founded in 1911, and headquartered in Hiroshima, Japan, is a manufacturer of machine tools and grinders. The company’s products include overhauling and retrofitting machine tools, CNC masterless cam grinders, and CNC centerless cylindrical grinders. These products are widely used in various sectors, including automotive, aerospace, and general engineering. The company is also known for its technological solutions and precision engineering. The company’s customer services encompass various areas, including pre-sales consultations, technical support, and after-sales assistance.
Okamoto has been a manufacturer of Total Abrasive Process Machine in Japan since 1926. The company offers a range of Griding machines, including Precision Cylindrical, Double Column Type, Specialized, Ultra Precision Form, and CNC Precision Surface Grinding Machines, as well as Semiconductor equipment devices such as polishing, lapping, and slicing machines, along with special consumer-designed devices. These products provide abrasive processing for the automotive, IT, digital consumer electronics, and semiconductor industries.
I Machine Tools Corp. is a manufacturer and exporter of various kinds of CNC machines and machine tools based in Taichung City, Taiwan. The company specializes in the production of metal cutting machines, CNC milling machines, grinding machines, and machining centers. I Machine Tools Corp. also offers various Vertical and Horizontal CNC Turning Lathe such as High-Speed Turning Lathe and CNC Swiss Type Turning Lathe designed for hard materials machining.
Rush Machinery, Inc., established in 1983, is a manufacturer of production and support machinery for companies that work with carbide and other hard materials and use diamond and CBN wheels. The machinery includes balancing systems, wheel truing & dressing machines, cut-off machines, drill & tool grinders, and drill grinding fixtures used in oil & gas, manufacturing, automotive, construction, and transportation industries. The company in Rushville, NY, USA, offers support for the machines by doing wheel replacements and complete machine rebuilds to keep the machine running smoothly.
T.R. Wigglesworth Machinery Company is a family-run business that was founded in 1935 and based in Bedford, Ohio. The company is a distributor of manufacturing equipment, tools, and machines. The company is led by faith to serve and donate to the Bedford city mission. The company features brands such as Webster & Bennet, Acer, Whacheon, Femco, and Kent. The company’s product offerings include boring mills, grinding and milling machines, and manual and CNC machines. The company also offers parts and services including auctions, financing, and purchasing of used equipment.
Sterling Machinery Exchange (Sterling) was founded in 1954 and is based in South El Monte, California. Sterling is a distributor for new and used machinery and purchases used equipment, primarily for industrial and manufacturing uses. Types of machinery the company offers include air compressors, boring mills, deburring machines, lathes, and stretch forming machines. The company offers both new and used equipment as well as a buyer's guide for purchasing assistance. The company also purchases used equipment.
Accusize Industrial Tools was born in Toronto, Canada in 2008. Accusize is a distributor of measuring tools, cutting tools, and machine tools for metalworking companies. A portion of offerings that Accusize offers includes collet blocks, expanding arbors, air tools, power tools, die maker tools, annular cutters, bore gages, boring bars, boring heads, BT40 tooling, CAT40 tooling, calibration, layout, & machine setting tools, calipers & attachments, carbide inserts, end mills, force gauges, and metrology and material testing equipment.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | I Machine Tools Corp. |
18.8%
|
2 | HI-LIFE MACHINE TOOLS LIMITED |
12.5%
|
3 | JTEKT Toyoda Americas Corp. |
12.5%
|
4 | Star Cutter Company |
12.5%
|
5 | SHIGIYA MACHINERY WORKS LTD. |
12.5%
|
6 | Jeffer Machinery Co., Ltd. |
6.3%
|
7 | TOP-WORK INDUSTRY CO., LTD. |
6.3%
|
8 | Kaste Industrial Machine Sales, Inc. |
6.3%
|
9 | Sterling Machinery Exchange |
6.3%
|
10 | JTEKT Corporation |
6.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the universal grinder page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 4 | 33.3% |
Japan | 3 | 25.0% |
Taiwan | 2 | 16.7% |
India | 1 | 8.3% |
China | 1 | 8.3% |
Canada | 1 | 8.3% |