Schneeberger Gemini NGM

The Schneeberger Gemini NGM is a 5-axis CNC tool and cutter grinding machine built for production grinding of rotary cutting tools — primarily solid carbide end mills, drills, reamers, and step tools. Schneeberger, headquartered in Roggwil, Switzerland, has been manufacturing precision grinding machines since 1923, and the Gemini NGM represents their modern production platform for tool manufacturers who need high throughput with Swiss-level precision. The machine handles tool diameters from 0.5 to 320 mm depending on the workholding configuration, covering everything from micro drills to large face mill bodies.

The Gemini NGM features a direct-drive grinding spindle producing up to 26 kW at speeds up to 10,000 RPM. The spindle accepts grinding wheel packages up to 250 mm in diameter, and an optional automatic wheel changer accommodates up to 8 wheel packs for unattended grinding of complex tool geometries. The 5-axis configuration (X, Y, Z, A, C) provides full freedom to grind primary and secondary clearances, chip breakers, corner radii, and point geometries in a single setup. Axis travel is generous at 500 x 350 x 300 mm (X/Y/Z), and the A-axis swivels +/-30 degrees while the C-axis provides continuous 360-degree rotation.

Schneeberger equips the Gemini NGM with their proprietary QUINTO software, which is one of the more comprehensive tool grinding programming packages available. QUINTO includes parametric grinding programs for all standard tool types — end mills, drills, reamers, taps, step tools, profile tools — with full 3D simulation before grinding. The software handles everything from single-tool prototyping to batch production, and it interfaces directly with tool measurement systems for closed-loop quality control. The control hardware runs on a Fanuc 31i-B5 or Siemens 840D sl depending on customer preference.

The Gemini NGM is built for production environments with typical cycle times of 3-8 minutes per tool depending on complexity. Integrated robotic loaders support pallet-based automation for lights-out production runs of hundreds or thousands of tools. At roughly $350,000-$550,000 new, the machine competes directly with the ANCA MX7, Walter Helitronic Vision 400, and Vollmer VGrind 360E in the mid-to-high-end tool grinding segment.