Page 34 - MTW November 2022 Digital Magazine_R1

CASE STUDY

ANCA’s grinding technology offers

India-based SST Cutting Tools a high-

precision boost

Partnering with ANCA gave a boost
of confidence to the Bengaluru-
based company, which extensively
uses ANCA machines to make
precision cutting tools, prepare
blanks, and regrind tools

Talking about his vision,
Kumar says, “I want SST Cutting
Tools to be a world-class
manufacturer of cutting tools and
provide services to the customer’s
speculated time with zero defects
and a high degree of accuracy.”

rom a conventional machine operator up the process and procure for precision cutting tools
to the founder of a company that orders that needed high requirements,” says Kumar.
Fmanufactures high-precision cutting precision. That’s when I thought As orders increased, the
tools that employs over 30 people. of investing in a CNC grinding company grew. A plot of land
Sounds like an unbelievable success machine,” says Kumar. was purchased and construction of
story? Well, this perfectly describes the “I had absolutely no idea about CNC its factory began in 2016.“We were small
journey of Kumar A., a passionate cutting grinding machines, as I had never operated players, but I always maintained one thing
toolmaker from Bengaluru, India. Did you one before. All I knew was that I wanted – never compromise on technology. Moving
know Kumar’s cutting tool manufacturing the best one. I evaluated several global to the new factory in 2017, we added a
company, SST Cutting Tools, relies on brands and found ANCA to be best suited Zoller tool inspection machine, which could
high-end grinding machines from ANCA for my application. More than anything, I measure any kind of tool profiles with the
to manufacture customised tools for needed a user-friendly machine, as none of accuracy of one micron,” he explains.
aerospace, defence, and automotive the team members, including me, had any The company started taking precision
applications? Here’s how it all began... experience with CNC grinding machines,” cutting tool orders, with many happy
adds Kumar. customers. “We received several repeat
Journey of growth with ANCA orders and a lot of new inquiries. We
Kumar started SST Cutting Tools in the Enhanced output, efficiency, needed to enhance our efficiency further
middle of the global recession in 2008 with accuracy by reducing the setup time. I discussed this
a single tool and cutter grinding machine. SST Cutting Tools added an ANCA challenge with the ANCA team, and they
The company now has four ANCA FX3 with linear scale technology, which suggested the ANCA FX5 fully automatic
machines and many delighted customers. can produce tools with an accuracy of linear machine. I saw the demo, observed
“I started with one conventional machine three microns. “We were amazed by the all the features, and opted for it in March
and used to regrind tools. My work was machine’s output and speed. Our efficiency 2018. It was the perfect match for my
received well in the industry and soon I and accuracy went up. This provided a requirements. The machine is equipped
added more conventional machines and boost to our much-needed confidence with a 2-wheel changer that helps us
operators, but we were not able to speed and now we’re out in the market looking reduce the number of setups,” informs

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