The Alfons Schmeier Story
As a manufacturer of premium abrasive tools, Alfons Schmeier (a subsidiary of Abraxos Holding and a sister company of Meister AG) applies more than 75 years of expertise to create high-precision finishing tools for honing and superfinishing applications. Honing uses abrasive machining to optimize surface finish and part geometry, while Superfinishing is typically the final step in a production process to achieve a specific surface finish and topography. Alfons Schmeier’s line of honing and superfinishing tools, known as FSK, offers both conventional and superabrasive stones and sleeves that enable customers to achieve demanding surface specifications. Along with stock solutions ready for immediate shipment, Alfons Schmeier also creates customized products sized to suit customers’ individual needs. The company’s highly knowledgeable global sales team offers the technical knowledge and practical insights to assist customers in obtaining the correct finishing tools for their applications.
FSK honing stones
Commitment to Quality
For optimal performance, finishing tools need to produce longer tool life and shorter cycle times with fewer tool changes, all with consistent performance from batch to batch. To ensure the consistency of its finishing stones, Alfons Schmeier first creates larger blocks, which it cuts to size based on customers’ unique specifications. Many competing superfinishing products lack consistency from one batch to the next, leaving manufacturers to struggle with production adjustments and quality-control issues. Unlike these competitors, Alfons Schmeier achieves homogeneous consistency throughout the entire block, which yields uniform tool performance from piece to piece and batch to batch.
FSK superfinishing cups
Research and Development
Alfons Schmeier has leveraged internal inspection data and conducted in-depth research and development to optimize grits and bondings for best performance. Along with working closely with customers to quantify and meet their needs, the company has entered into relationships with universities conducting research into how to optimize the machining of numerous products, including medical implants, bearings, and the molds and dies for beverage cans, just to name a few. As these research institutions – and the manufacturers for whom they conduct research – benefit from the ability to use Alfons Schmeier’s products, the company also benefits from R&D access to ideal test beds for product improvement. These investments in technology, research and inspection enable Alfons Schmeier to create a premium product with predictable, consistent performance.
Performance Optimization
Optimal performance requires correct honing/superfinishing-machine setup, and customers need to monitor several aspects of their production processes closely. Lubrication and cooling are essential in honing and superfinishing applications. Coolant must aim directly at the cut at the correct flow volume, with proper filtration to maintain coolant cleanliness, since the tools remove and release minute amounts of material and abrasive into the coolant. Along with coolant quality, manufacturers need to verify that machine power falls within the range for proper output quality. Schmeier’s team of application experts are ready and able to advise customers on how to optimize these parameters.
NEW Finishing Technologies from Alfons Schmeier
sintered corundum
Sintered Corundum – The traditional way to improve lubrication, cooling, and wear resistance in finishing tools is to use wax or sulfur treatment. Sulfur typically offers better performance than wax, but it can cause environmental problems and damage to machine tools and their electrical cables. Alfons Schmeier has developed a solution. Its newest products use sintered corundum grit, without sulfur, and provide greater stability, higher material removal rates, superior surface qualities, and improved tool life when compared to standard sulfur treated tools.
CBN
CBN – Schmeier has developed a high-performance line of honing and superfinishing tools that utilize CBN (Cubic Boron Nitride). These tools can be applied to the most demanding applications that require the very best in cutting efficiency and tool life. Examples include finishing of very hard materials, and applications that require removal of turning grooves or milled surfaces while still achieving an optimal surface quality.
Both Sintered Corundum and CBN tools are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, can be customized to the application, and are compatible with both oil and water-based coolants.
Throughout its FSK product line, Alfons Schmeier has made superior, consistent performance the focus of extensive R&D and customer-centered development. Its global applications team offers the expertise and experience to assist manufacturers with the challenges of complex, precise finishing applications. The company’s commitment to ongoing R&D, and its focus on collaboration with customers to provide the right solutions for their needs, positions Alfons Schmeier to meet any honing or superfinishing challenge for years to come.
