Perfect seaming and grinding with the new KSD-A from LiSEC

With its new KSD-A vertical edge processing machine, LiSEC pays special attention to the glass edge. Depending on the end product and the follow-up process in glass finishing, the glass must have a ground (KMG) or seamed (KGS) glass edge. The new KSD-A, with its patent-pending LiTEC slider processing tool goes a further step toward increased efficiency, especially for challenging glass sheets.

The LiTEC slider processing tool uses a water-guided system to move the grinding wheel to the glass to be processed and for adapting to the glass’s distortions. The advantage of this “floating” processing tool is its ideal adaptation to the glass edge and the sheet characteristics, as well as its ideal cooling. This allows better grinding and seaming performance under difficult conditions. In this interview, LiSEC product managers Christoph Lueger and Elias Leichtfried tell more about the design, functions and special characteristics of this new combined edge grinding and seaming machine. 

QUESTION: MR LUEGER, HOW IS THE KSD-A CONFIGURED?

Christoph Lueger: The KSD-A is a vertical edge grinding and seaming machine with new LiTEC slider circumferential processing. The edge processing machine comes standard with a processing head and can be optionally equipped with an additional one to significantly increase throughput. With a processing head, seaming performance takes under 24 seconds, and on the version with two heads under 13 seconds are possible for a glass sheet of 1,000 x 1,000 mm. The KSD-A processes premium ground glass edges in more than 30 seconds with one processing head and less than 30 seconds with two grinding heads.

QUESTION: HOW DOES PROCESSING OF THE GLASS EDGES WORK? 

Elias Leichtfried: While being fed in, the glass sheet to be processed is measured on the fly for length and height. The KSD-A has an optional data connection for receiving sheet information, for further reduction of processing time. A high-speed X-axis with a vacuum suction unit takes over transport during edge processing and keeps the feed going.

The KSD-A optionally does coarse, medium or fine grinding in any number of cycles or gives the glass edge a perfect seam. Moreover, the KSD-A can also grind sheets to measure, which shows its extraordinary flexibility.

QUESTION: WHAT ARE THE SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE LISEC KSD-A?

Christoph Lueger: The advantages of the KSD-A are its especially compact design, its simple access and operation, and its flexibility with difficult glass proportions in edge processing. The premium processing though use of stainless steel in the wet area, and a sophisticated system for separating the wet and dry area, ensure that the precision axes are protected from the grinding water. This reduces maintenance and its associated costs and increases machine availability. The automatic tool measurement especially saves time and ensures the highest quality. The operator can change a tool quickly and easily, because there is access to the processing head directly from the operator’s work area in front of the machine.

The KSD-A is available in four different sizes. The machine comes in heights of 2,000 mm, 2,500 mm, 3,000 mm and 3,300 mm. The maximum processing length can be flexibly extended as needed. Further options, such as the additional processing head, custom grinding, a data connection and grinding water treatment ensure adaptation to customer need.

QUESTION: HOW DO THE LITEC SLIDER EDGE PROCESSING TOOLS WORK?

Elias Leichtfried: The core of the new KSD-A is the new processing tools with LiTEC slider technology. These are specially guided grinding wheels. Guiding and delivering the processing tool with water ensures that, especially when seaming, the tool adapts to the breakage quality, evenness and geometric precision, always ensuring process-stable, high-quality results. The extraordinarily effective cooling of LiTEC slider technology ensures visually high-quality seaming and grinding.

FACT BOX:

Standard functions

• Automatic infeed and outfeed of the glass sheets
• Processing of float glass and laminated glass sheets with a glass thickness of 3-19 mm
• Automatic measurement of rectangles
• Seaming and grinding without glass removal
• Two sets of tools based on LiTEC slider technology
• Simple operating program with graphical interface

Optional functions

• Version with additional processing head for maximum throughput
• Grinding with glass removal
• Data connection to the production planning system
• Version with WRA-1500 grinding water treatment

Highlights 

• Perfect seaming quality in every situation
  
  By using LiTEC slider technology, the seam quality is no longer dependent on the quality of glass cutting. Even glass sheets with poorly cut or broken edges are processed reliably on the KSD-A.
• Fast and reliable
  
  The machine was developed for use in highly automated lines, based on decades of experience in vertically processing glass sheets. The KSD-A is a universal glass processing tool, combining the fastest possible cycle times with the utmost in reliability and flexibility.
• Diverse connection options
  
  The machine's control options are as diverse as the customers' requirements. From the manual input and the automatic measurement of rectangles, to direct connection to the production control system, the KSD-A enables every form of integration in the production line.