Kadia Introduces Compact Honing Machine for Precision and Productivity

Kadia has released the second generation of the E line honing machine. At the heart of the new machine is the completely redesigned LH2x honing spindle, which consolidates experience from more than 1,000 LH spindles sold into an entirely new platform. Three direct drives for oscillation, rotation, and expansion are housed within a highly rigid monocoque structure that minimizes vibration and reliably absorbs high dynamic forces.

“The E line series is the cost-efficient entry into high-performance honing,” explains Henning Klein, managing director of Kadia Produktion GmbH + Co. “From prototype production and small batches to economically optimized series machining, we now cover a very broad application spectrum.”

This includes honing bores starting at approximately 1.5 mm in delicate small components, as well as machining tasks up to 40–50 mm in diameter — for example in hydraulic components or precision automotive parts.

Compared to the previous LH2, the new spindle generation offers significantly higher cutting speeds, increased material removal rates, greater versatility, and improved serviceability. Larger volumes of material can be removed in shorter timeframes, machining times are reduced, and cycle times decrease — without compromising process stability. For components with demanding geometries, the improved temperature and power stability further enhances machining accuracy and reliability.

The working area has also been significantly expanded. The new rotary table provides approximately 30 percent more diameter for fixtures, substantially broadening the range of components that can be processed. The machine automatically detects the moving mass and adjusts transport speeds accordingly: heavier components are moved more gently, lighter ones more dynamically. This adaptive control reduces imbalance, extends the service life of mechanical components, and lowers wear and maintenance costs over the machine’s lifecycle. Additionally, access to the loading and unloading station has been widened by 12 percent, considerably improving manual loading ergonomics.

Pictured above: The second-generation Kadia E-Line series features a completely redesigned LH2x honing spindle and three direct drives.

The E line remains a three-station machine in its basic configuration, consisting of a loading/unloading station, honing station, and measuring station. For the first time, an integrated deburring unit can be incorporated into the loading and unloading station, including an automatic brush changer. This removes loose machining burrs directly after honing — increasing process reliability and component cleanliness. The coolant system remains fully integrated but now features significantly improved filtration fineness of 10 µm (previously 25 µm).

A key pillar of the high-performance concept remains the HMC100 control system, which together with the spindle technology forms the technological core of the machine. The latest operating system version significantly expands capabilities for complex applications. Continuous contour scanning of the entire bore has now become the standard measuring method. The machine captures up to 500 measurement values per millimeter of bore length, generating an exceptionally precise representation of the geometry — including areas that are difficult to access using conventional measurement techniques. This level of measurement accuracy substantially increases process reliability. In addition, fully independent three-stage honing processes can now be executed within a single honing cycle, with individually adjustable infeed impulses, speeds, accelerations, and rotational speeds.

The measuring station has also been further developed. An optional rotary measuring axis can now be integrated. This system automatically detects the orientation of the workpiece and positions the measuring probes accordingly — a significant advantage for components with longitudinal grooves or cross-bores. Orientation-specific loading is no longer required, making the loading process faster and less error-prone while simplifying and reducing the cost of automation solutions. Depending on the application, significantly shorter measuring probes can also be used, improving measurement accuracy and enabling further cycle time reductions.

The E line is aimed at manufacturers requiring the highest precision in small to medium batch sizes, while simultaneously demanding economic efficiency, flexibility, and a compact footprint. The machine is ideally suited for highly accurate prototype and sample production as well as economically optimized series processes — in industries such as hydraulics, precision engineering, automotive, and aerospace. 

“With the second generation of the E line, we bring precision honing, flexibility, and economic efficiency onto a common platform,” concludes Klein. “The machine is more versatile, faster, more robust — and still extremely compact. That was precisely our ambition.”

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