Junker Quickpoint

The Junker Quickpoint is a CBN point grinding machine that redefined how manufacturers approach cylindrical grinding of complex shaft geometries. Rather than using the full width of a conventional grinding wheel, the Quickpoint process uses the tip of a narrow CBN wheel to grind multiple diameters, shoulders, undercuts, radii, and even threads in a single clamping. This eliminates the need for multiple setups or dedicated wheels for each feature, making it exceptionally productive for shafts with complex geometries like crankshafts, camshafts, rotor shafts, and gear blanks.

The Quickpoint technology runs CBN wheels at peripheral speeds up to 150 m/s, and the narrow point contact area means that most of the grinding force is directed radially rather than laterally. This produces less workpiece deflection than conventional plunge grinding, which is a significant advantage when grinding long, slender shafts that would otherwise need steady rests. The machine's C-axis interpolation with the X and Z axes allows the wheel to trace complex contours in a continuous path, grinding features that would normally require form-dressed wheels on conventional machines.

The machine platform is built on a polymer concrete bed that provides excellent vibration damping — roughly 6-10 times better than cast iron. Hydrostatic guideways on the X and Z axes eliminate stick-slip behavior at low feed rates, which is critical for achieving consistent surface finishes during spark-out passes. The grinding spindle is a direct-drive motor spindle producing up to 45 kW, mounted on a B-axis swivel that allows the wheel to be angled for taper grinding and shoulder access. The workhead supports speeds up to 5,000 RPM with C-axis interpolation for non-round grinding applications.

Junker controls the Quickpoint with a Siemens Sinumerik 840D sl running their proprietary grinding cycle software. The software handles the complex toolpath calculations required for point grinding automatically — the operator defines the part geometry and the system generates optimized rough and finish paths. In-process gauging, automatic wheel balancing, and acoustic emission monitoring are standard. New Quickpoint machines price in the $400,000-$650,000 range depending on configuration. The machine competes with conventional multi-wheel cylindrical grinders but often replaces two or three machines with a single setup.