Rollomatic SharpSmart 10x

$250,000 - $400,000 Updated 2026-03-16

Key Specifications

grinding axes

6-axis simultaneous (X, Y, Z linear + A, B, C rotary)

target material

HSS, HSS-cobalt, HSS-PM (powder metallurgy)

max tool diameter

Up to 125 mm (4.9 in) for larger-diameter HSS tools

max tool length

Up to 450 mm (17.7 in)

grinding wheel type

CBN (vitrified and electroplated), conventional aluminum oxide

grinding spindle speed

Up to 10,000 RPM

Overview

The Rollomatic SharpSmart 10x is a 6-axis CNC tool grinding machine optimized for the grinding and resharpening of high-speed steel (HSS) and HSS-cobalt cutting tools — end mills, drills, reamers, and specialty tools where the material is not carbide but the geometry and edge quality requirements remain demanding. While Rollomatic's GrindSmart series targets solid carbide tool production, the SharpSmart addresses the HSS segment with a machine configuration and wheel system optimized for CBN wheel grinding of HSS at production rates.

HSS cutting tool grinding presents different challenges than carbide grinding. CBN (cubic boron nitride) wheels are the preferred superabrasive for HSS — CBN cuts HSS efficiently, provides excellent surface finish on HSS cutting edges, and maintains wheel profile for longer than conventional aluminum oxide wheels. The SharpSmart 10x is configured with spindle power and speed specifications matched to CBN wheel performance on HSS, and its wheel pack accepts CBN wheels in the configurations required for complete HSS tool grinding cycles.

The machine's 6-axis simultaneous architecture is the same concept as the GrindSmart 628XW — three linear axes plus three rotary axes, all simultaneously interpolated. This provides the full geometric freedom to grind complex HSS tool profiles: variable-helix end mills, split-point drills, high-helix reamers, and form tools. A 5-axis machine can handle many HSS tool types, but the 6th axis enables approach geometries that 5-axis machines cannot achieve, particularly for undercut profiles and complex end geometries.

Rollomatic's Virtual Grinding software covers the SharpSmart 10x with HSS-specific geometry libraries that include standard HSS end mill, drill, and reamer geometries as well as user-definable profiles. CBN wheel dressing cycles are integrated into the software — vitrified CBN wheels can be dressed on-machine to restore profile and cutting ability without removing the wheel from the spindle.

The SharpSmart 10x competes in the HSS tool grinding market with ANCA and Vollmer, among others. Its price position of $250,000-$400,000 reflects the CBN-optimized HSS configuration at a lower cost than the full carbide-optimized GrindSmart.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Grinding Axes	6-axis simultaneous (X, Y, Z linear + A, B, C rotary)
Target Material	HSS, HSS-cobalt, HSS-PM (powder metallurgy)
Max Tool Diameter	Up to 125 mm (4.9 in) for larger-diameter HSS tools
Max Tool Length	Up to 450 mm (17.7 in)
Grinding Wheel Type	CBN (vitrified and electroplated), conventional aluminum oxide
Grinding Spindle Speed	Up to 10,000 RPM
Grinding Spindle Power	Up to 15 kW (20 HP)
Spindle Type	Direct-drive motorized spindle
Machine Base	Polymer concrete
CNC Control	Rollomatic CNC with Virtual Grinding (VG) software, HSS tool libraries
Dressing	On-machine vitrified CBN wheel dressing
Coolant	Flood coolant with filtration
Workholding	Precision collet chuck

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

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

6-axis simultaneous grinding handles complex HSS tool geometries including variable-helix end mills and split-point drills that 5-axis machines cannot produce
CBN wheel optimized configuration for HSS provides significantly longer wheel life and better surface finish than conventional aluminum oxide grinding — reducing wheel cost per tool
Large tool diameter capacity (up to 125 mm) accommodates large-diameter HSS end mills and reamers beyond the typical capacity of carbide-focused tool grinders
Virtual Grinding software with HSS-specific libraries reduces programming time for standard HSS tool geometries to minutes
On-machine CBN wheel dressing maintains wheel profile without removing wheels, streamlining the production cycle for vitrified CBN wheel operations
Lower entry price than carbide-focused GrindSmart 628XW while sharing the same 6-axis architecture and Virtual Grinding software platform

Limitations

Optimized for HSS — for solid carbide production grinding, the GrindSmart 628XW's diamond wheel configuration and tighter workholding runout spec are more appropriate
HSS tool production volumes are generally lower than carbide due to market trends favoring carbide — the machine may be underutilized if the shop's HSS business declines
CBN wheel inventory management — maintaining vitrified CBN wheels in multiple specifications and dressing them correctly — requires dedicated process management
The 6-axis architecture's full benefit requires complex tool geometries; shops grinding primarily simple drills and straight-flute end mills may not utilize the 6th axis capability

Best For

HSS cutting tool manufacturers producing end mills, drills, reamers, and specialty HSS tools in batch quantities where CBN wheel economics justify the machine investment Tool reconditioning shops that specialize in resharpening HSS tooling for industries where HSS remains the preferred tool material — woodworking tooling industry, certain non-ferrous machining General-purpose tool grinding shops that grind both HSS and carbide and need a machine with the flexibility to handle HSS tools up to 125 mm diameter Shops transitioning their HSS reconditioning operations from older conventional grinders to CNC programming and CBN wheels to improve quality and reduce operator dependency

Frequently Asked Questions

01 Why is CBN preferred over aluminum oxide for HSS grinding?

CBN (cubic boron nitride) is chemically inert relative to steel and iron — it does not react with HSS at grinding temperatures the way aluminum oxide can. CBN cuts HSS more freely, generates less heat per unit of material removed, and maintains wheel profile geometry for significantly longer than aluminum oxide. A typical CBN grinding wheel grinds 50-200 times more HSS before dressing than an aluminum oxide wheel. The surface finish and edge quality from CBN on HSS is also superior — lower Ra values and sharper, more consistent cutting edges. The higher upfront wheel cost is quickly recovered in reduced wheel dressing frequency and improved tool quality.

02 Can the SharpSmart 10x also grind carbide tools?

The SharpSmart 10x can grind carbide with diamond wheels — the 6-axis architecture is material-agnostic. However, the spindle power and speed configuration is optimized for CBN-HSS operations rather than diamond-carbide operations, and the workholding runout specification (which is important for carbide micro-geometry) is not as tightly specified as on the GrindSmart 628XW. For occasional carbide grinding, the SharpSmart 10x is capable. For production carbide tool grinding, the GrindSmart 628XW is the better-suited platform. The choice at purchase should be driven by the primary material to be ground.

03 What is the typical production rate for resharpening HSS end mills on the SharpSmart 10x?

For resharpening a 4-flute HSS end mill (relief regrind + gash regrind, no full flute grind), a typical cycle time is 4-10 minutes per tool depending on diameter and the number of operations performed. A production batch of 50 end mills can be completed in one 8-hour shift including loading, setup, and quality checks. For new tool grinding from bar stock (full flute + gash + end geometry), cycle times are 15-35 minutes per tool. Robot loading on the SharpSmart 10x can run overnight batches of 200-500 tools in standard collet configurations without operator attendance.