EMAG EMAG SN 204

$500,000 - $900,000 Updated 2026-03-19

Key Specifications

Max Workpiece ⌀

380 mm (15.0 in)

max workpiece length

600 mm (23.6 in)

x axis travel

mmin

z axis travel

mmin

x axis drive

Hydrostatic ball screw drive

x axis guideway

Hydrostatic guideway

Overview

The EMAG SN 204 is a CNC out-of-round grinding machine designed for production grinding of camshafts, eccentric shafts, and other non-circular profiles up to 380 mm in diameter and 600 mm in length. The SN Series represents EMAG’s dedicated platform for non-circular (out-of-round) grinding — the specialized process of grinding cam lobes, polygon profiles, and other contoured surfaces that require coordinated C-axis rotation with X-axis plunge to generate non-circular cross-sections.

The machine provides 380 mm of X-axis travel and 1,000 mm of Z-axis travel, with the X-axis featuring a hydrostatic ball screw drive and hydrostatic guideway. This hydrostatic technology is not optional luxury on an out-of-round grinder — it is essential. The X-axis must reverse direction thousands of times per workpiece rotation to follow the cam lobe profile, and the stick-slip behavior of conventional guideways would introduce profile errors. Hydrostatic guideways eliminate metal-to-metal contact, providing frictionless, vibration-free motion with virtually infinite positioning resolution.

The SN 204 accommodates one, two, or more grinding wheels for external out-of-round and cylindrical grinding operations. This multi-wheel capability enables simultaneous grinding of multiple cam lobes or combining cylindrical journal grinding with cam lobe grinding in a single setup. The compound table design reduces the overall machine footprint while maintaining the rigidity needed for precision profile grinding.

A twin-slide variant is available for applications requiring additional grinding wheel configurations or simultaneous operations on multiple portions of the workpiece. The machine handles both conventional corundum and CBN grinding wheels, with CBN being the preferred choice for production camshaft grinding due to its superior wear resistance and consistent profile accuracy over extended wheel life.

New EMAG SN 204 machines typically price between $500,000 and $900,000 depending on the number of grinding spindles, automation level, and application-specific customization.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Max Workpiece Diameter	380 mm (15.0 in)
Max Workpiece Length	600 mm (23.6 in)
X Axis Travel	mmin
Z Axis Travel	mmin
X Axis Drive	Hydrostatic ball screw drive
X Axis Guideway	Hydrostatic guideway
Grinding Wheels	1, 2, or more for external out-of-round and cylindrical grinding
Table Design	Compound table for reduced footprint
Variants	Standard and twin-slide
Grinding Media	Corundum or CBN
Grinding Type	Out-of-round (cam lobe) and cylindrical
CNC Control	CNC with cam profile interpolation
Workpiece Dia Max	mmin
Workpiece Length Max	mmin

Specifications sourced from emag.com — verified 2026-03-28

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Hydrostatic X-axis ball screw and guideway provide frictionless vibration-free motion essential for accurate out-of-round profile grinding of cam lobes
Multi-wheel capability (1, 2, or more wheels) enables simultaneous grinding of multiple cam lobes or combined cam/journal grinding in a single setup
380 mm maximum workpiece diameter accommodates large-diameter camshafts and eccentric components beyond the reach of compact cam grinders
Compound table design reduces footprint while maintaining the rigidity needed for high-accuracy profile grinding at production speeds
Twin-slide variant available for applications requiring additional grinding configurations or simultaneous multi-location operations
Supports both CBN and conventional wheels with CBN delivering superior cam lobe profile consistency and extended wheel life in production

Limitations

Premium pricing of $500K-$900K reflects the specialized hydrostatic technology and multi-wheel complexity requiring high-volume cam grinding to justify
Dedicated out-of-round grinding platform is not versatile and cannot substitute for a universal cylindrical grinder for general shaft work
Hydrostatic systems require clean temperature-controlled hydraulic oil supply adding maintenance complexity compared to conventional guideways
600 mm maximum workpiece length limits the machine to shorter camshafts as longer automotive and industrial camshafts require the SN 208 or SN 310

Best For

Automotive engine manufacturers grinding intake and exhaust camshafts in hardened steel where cam lobe profile accuracy directly affects engine performance High-performance and racing engine builders grinding custom cam profiles requiring sub-micrometer profile accuracy on hardened steel blanks Hydraulic pump and motor manufacturers grinding eccentric shafts and cam rings where non-circular profiles must maintain tight tolerance envelopes Compressor manufacturers grinding eccentric and cam components for scroll, vane, and piston compressor assemblies Production facilities grinding high volumes of camshafts where multi-wheel CBN grinding maximizes throughput and profile consistency

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What is out-of-round grinding?

Out-of-round grinding (also called non-circular or cam grinding) produces non-circular cross-sections by coordinating the X-axis infeed with the C-axis (workpiece rotation). As the workpiece rotates, the grinding wheel advances and retracts following a programmed profile generating cam lobes, polygon shapes, or other non-circular geometries.

02 Why does the SN 204 use hydrostatic guideways?

Hydrostatic guideways float the moving element on a thin film of pressurized oil, eliminating metal-to-metal contact and stick-slip friction. In out-of-round grinding, the X-axis must reverse direction at high frequency with micrometer-level precision. Any stick-slip would introduce profile errors on the cam lobes.

03 What is the difference between the SN 204 and SN 208?

The SN 204 and SN 208 share the same 380 mm workpiece diameter capacity, but the SN 208 accepts longer workpieces up to 950 mm (vs. 600 mm) with 1,600 mm of Z-axis travel (vs. 1,000 mm). The SN 208 is for longer camshafts and multi-journal applications.

04 Can the SN 204 grind cylindrical surfaces as well as cam lobes?

Yes. The SN 204 supports both out-of-round and cylindrical grinding operations. This means it can grind cam lobes and bearing journals on the same camshaft in a single setup, using different grinding wheels for each operation.