Vollmer QXD200

$400,000 - $650,000 Updated 2026-03-16

Key Specifications

Accuracy

< 0.002 mm (< 2 µm)

max tool diameter

200 mm (7.9 in)

max tool length

350 mm (13.8 in)

c axis rotation

±360° continuous

erosion method

Rotary EDM (copper/graphite disc)

grinding wheel

Diamond grinding wheel

Overview

The Vollmer QXD200 is a CNC erosion (EDM) and grinding machine specifically engineered for the production and resharpening of PCD (polycrystalline diamond) and PCBN (polycrystalline cubic boron nitride) cutting tools — the ultra-hard cutting materials used for machining non-ferrous metals, hardened steels, and composite materials at production rates that conventional carbide tooling cannot sustain. The QXD200 combines rotary EDM erosion and grinding on the same machine platform, enabling complete PCD tool manufacture or resharpening in a single setup.

PCD and PCBN tools cannot be ground with conventional grinding wheels — the material hardness (PCD at approximately 10,000 HV) makes conventional abrasive grinding impractical. The QXD200 uses rotary EDM erosion (rotating copper or graphite discs) to remove PCD material through spark erosion, combined with conventional diamond grinding wheels for final edge geometry and surface finish. The result is a complete PCD tool manufacturing and resharpening cell in a single 5-axis CNC machine.

The QXD200 handles tool diameters up to 200 mm with ±360° C-axis rotation, covering the full range of PCD insert tools, PCD end mills, PCD reamers, PCD drill bodies, and PCD form tools used in high-volume automotive aluminum machining, aerospace composite machining, and wood/laminate processing. The Vollmer VC 756 CNC control integrates with Vollmer's VPPS (Vollmer Part Programming System) for tool geometry definition and program generation without requiring G-code programming.

At $400,000-$650,000 new, the QXD200 is the primary reference machine in PCD tool production and resharpening. Vollmer has the largest installed base of PCD tool machines globally, with the QXD200 positioned as the production workhorse for PCD insert manufacturers and large resharpening services.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Max Tool Diameter	200 mm (7.9 in)
Max Tool Length	350 mm (13.8 in)
C Axis Rotation	±360° continuous
Erosion Method	Rotary EDM (copper/graphite disc)
Grinding Wheel	Diamond grinding wheel
Axes	5-axis (X, Y, Z, A, C)
Positioning Accuracy	< 0.002 mm (< 2 µm)
CNC Control	Vollmer VC 756 with VPPS
Machine Weight	~4,500 kg (9,921 lb)

Specifications sourced from vollmer-group.com — verified 2026-03-28

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Combined EDM erosion + diamond grinding enables complete PCD tool production and resharpening in a single 5-axis setup
Handles the full range of PCD tool types — inserts, end mills, reamers, drills, form tools — up to 200 mm diameter
VPPS programming system generates tool programs from geometry input without G-code programming, reducing setup time
Largest global installed base in PCD tool machines — Vollmer's service and tooling ecosystem is unmatched
< 0.002 mm positioning accuracy produces cutting edge geometry consistent with PCD insert manufacturer tolerances
Both production manufacturing and resharpening workflows on the same machine — flexible for tool rooms and service shops

Limitations

$400K-$650K investment requires sufficient PCD tool volume — resharpening services need high throughput to justify
EDM erosion is slow compared to conventional grinding — PCD material removal rates are inherently limited by spark erosion physics
Copper/graphite erosion discs are consumable — ongoing disc replacement cost is a significant operating expense
PCD tool programming requires understanding of Vollmer's VPPS system — not a universal CNC control
Machine requires clean, temperature-controlled environment for consistent erosion accuracy

Best For

PCD insert manufacturers producing polycrystalline diamond cutting inserts for automotive aluminum and composite machining Industrial resharpening services offering PCD tool resharpening for automotive and aerospace production customers Tool room operations maintaining PCD tooling for high-volume aluminum machining lines in automotive powertrain manufacturing Aerospace composite machining tool manufacturers producing PCD drills, reamers, and router cutters for CFRP machining Wood and laminate processing industry manufacturers producing and resharpening PCD tooling for panel processing machinery

Frequently Asked Questions

01 Why does PCD tool grinding require EDM erosion rather than conventional grinding?

PCD (polycrystalline diamond) has a Vickers hardness of approximately 10,000 HV — harder than any conventional abrasive grinding wheel material except diamond itself. While diamond wheels can grind PCD slowly, the process is extremely slow and wheel wear is excessive. EDM erosion removes PCD material through electrical spark discharge without mechanical contact, making it significantly faster for bulk PCD removal. The QXD200 uses EDM for rough material removal and diamond grinding for final edge geometry and surface finish — combining the speed advantage of EDM with the accuracy advantage of grinding.

02 What types of PCD tools can the QXD200 produce or resharpen?

The QXD200 handles PCD turning inserts (CNMG, DNMG, WNMG and similar ISO geometries), PCD end mills, PCD reamers, PCD drill bodies, PCD form tools, and PCD router cutters. The 200 mm maximum diameter covers most production PCD tooling. The 5-axis capability and VPPS programming system support complex helical flute geometries, variable rake faces, and complex nose radii required for precision PCD tool profiles.

03 How many PCD inserts can the QXD200 resharpen per hour?

Resharpening rate depends on insert geometry, wear condition, and required re-geometry. A typical PCD turning insert (CNMG 120408 geometry, moderate wear) can be resharpened in 8-15 minutes, yielding 4-7 inserts per hour. End mills and multi-flute tools take longer. The QXD200's automation options (pallet loading systems) enable unattended overnight resharpening batches, improving effective throughput significantly.

04 How does the QXD200 compare to laser processing for PCD tools?

Laser processing (ultrashort-pulse laser, as used in Vollmer's own QXF and EWAG's Laser Line Ultra) offers finer edge geometry and no heat-affected zone but is generally slower for bulk PCD removal than EDM. The QXD200's EDM+grinding combination is better suited for production resharpening volumes where throughput matters. Laser machines are preferred for the highest precision PCD tool geometries and very fine cutting edges in medical and optical applications.