United Grinding (EWAG) CNC Grinding Machines

EWAG Laser Line Ultra

$800,000 - $1,200,000 Updated 2026-03-16

Key Specifications

laser type

Ultrashort-pulse (femtosecond/picosecond)

axes

6 (full 3D laser positioning)

max tool diameter

250 mm (9.8 in)

tool types

PCD inserts, PCBN inserts, indexable tools, round shank tools

edge applications

Rake faces, relief angles, chip breakers, edge preparations

laser power

Configurable (multiple power options)

Overview

The EWAG Laser Line Ultra is a laser machining center for the production and processing of cutting tool edges on PCD (polycrystalline diamond), PCBN (polycrystalline cubic boron nitride), and coated carbide tools. EWAG, part of the United Grinding Group, developed the Laser Line Ultra to address the fundamental limitation of conventional grinding for PCD tools: grinding PCD and PCBN with conventional or superabrasive wheels is slow, prone to micro-chipping, and consumes expensive wheel material rapidly. Laser ablation produces cleaner, sharper edges on PCD tools at significantly higher removal rates.

The Laser Line Ultra uses an ultrashort-pulse laser (femtosecond or picosecond) for ablation of PCD, PCBN, and DLC-coated surfaces without the heat-affected zone (HAZ) that conventional nanosecond lasers produce. The ultrashort pulse delivers energy to the material so quickly that ablation occurs before heat conducts into the surrounding material, producing edges with no thermal damage to the PCD crystal structure. This is critical for PCD tool edge quality — thermal damage reduces edge sharpness and chip load resistance.

The machine handles PCD and PCBN inserts, indexable tools, and round shank tools up to 250 mm (9.8 in) diameter. The 6-axis laser positioning system provides full 3D laser machining of complex tool geometries including rake faces, relief angles, chip breakers, and edge preparations. The same C.O.R.E. platform used across United Grinding machines provides interface consistency for shops already operating Walter or Studer machines.

At $800,000-$1,200,000 new, the Laser Line Ultra is a major specialist investment for PCD and PCBN cutting tool manufacturers, carbide tool coating shops adding edge preparation capability, and aerospace and automotive suppliers running dedicated PCD/PCBN insert production. It competes with Vollmer's QPD 260 and Rollomatic's LaserSmart 510 in the PCD laser machining segment.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Laser Type	Ultrashort-pulse (femtosecond/picosecond)
Axes	6 (full 3D laser positioning)
Max Tool Diameter	250 mm (9.8 in)
Tool Types	PCD inserts, PCBN inserts, indexable tools, round shank tools
Edge Applications	Rake faces, relief angles, chip breakers, edge preparations
Laser Power	Configurable (multiple power options)
Thermal Affected Zone	Minimal (ultrashort pulse technology)
CNC Control	Fanuc with C.O.R.E. platform
Software	EWAG LASER TOOL dedicated
Machine Weight	~6,000 kg (13,228 lb)

Specifications sourced from sme.org — verified 2026-03-28

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Ultrashort-pulse laser produces PCD and PCBN edges without heat-affected zone — preserves crystal structure and maximizes edge sharpness
Significantly faster PCD material removal than conventional grinding with superabrasive wheels
6-axis laser positioning handles complex 3D tool geometries including chip breakers and complex relief angles
No grinding wheel consumption cost — laser operation cost is primarily electrical power and periodic optical system maintenance
C.O.R.E. platform provides operator familiarity for shops already using Walter or Studer machines
Produces PCD edges with geometry accuracy and consistency impossible with manual or conventional EDM methods

Limitations

$800K-$1.2M investment requires very high PCD/PCBN tool production volumes to justify
Specialized technology — EWAG laser machines require trained applications engineers and operators beyond standard CNC tool grinding skills
Maximum 250 mm tool diameter limits the machine to indexable inserts and smaller round shank PCD/PCBN tools
United Grinding service for laser systems requires specialized laser engineers — not standard grinder service technicians
The machine is specialized for PCD/PCBN and coated tools — it does not substitute for a conventional carbide/HSS tool grinder

Best For

PCD cutting tool manufacturers producing automotive aluminum and composites machining inserts in high volumes PCBN insert manufacturers producing hard-turning and interrupted-cut PCBN tooling Aerospace composite machining tool producers making diamond-edge router bits and hole-saw tools Carbide tool coating shops adding edge preparation capability to improve coated tool performance Automotive powertrain machining operations running large volumes of PCD inserts for aluminum bore and face machining

Frequently Asked Questions

01 Why use a laser instead of conventional grinding for PCD tools?

PCD (polycrystalline diamond) is the hardest cutting material available. Grinding it with superabrasive wheels is very slow, consumes expensive diamond or CBN wheel material rapidly, and can cause micro-chipping of the PCD grain structure. Ultrashort-pulse laser ablation removes PCD material by vaporization without heat damage, produces sharper edges, and has much faster material removal rates on PCD specifically.

02 What is an ultrashort-pulse laser?

Ultrashort-pulse lasers emit pulses in the femtosecond (10⁻¹⁵ sec) or picosecond (10⁻¹² sec) range. The pulse is so short that the energy is deposited and material ablated before heat can conduct into surrounding material. This eliminates the heat-affected zone (HAZ) that characterizes conventional nanosecond EDM erosion and longer-pulse lasers, producing cleaner, sharper edges with no subsurface thermal damage.

03 Can the Laser Line Ultra grind conventional carbide tools?

The Laser Line Ultra is designed primarily for PCD, PCBN, and DLC-coated tool edge processing. It is not a substitute for conventional 5-axis tool grinders like the Helitronic series for carbide and HSS tools. Shops needing to process both conventional carbide tools and PCD tools typically require both a conventional tool grinder (Walter Helitronic) and the Laser Line Ultra in their production cell.

04 How does the Laser Line Ultra compare to Vollmer's QPD 260?

Both are PCD/PCBN laser machining systems in the premium segment. EWAG's Laser Line Ultra uses ultrashort-pulse laser technology; Vollmer's QPD uses EDM erosion for PCD alongside laser. EWAG's ultrashort-pulse approach eliminates the HAZ better than EDM methods. Both are premium investments for high-volume PCD tool production; the choice depends on tool type mix and preferred process technology.