A passion for Aerospace

With Dr. Burkhart Grob’s passion for aerospace came the founding of Grob Aerospace in 1971, a German aircraft manufacturer specializing in gliders and general aviation. In 1974, Dr. Grob designed one of the first Grob aircrafts, a single seat fiberglass Club Class sailplane named G102.

INTERESTING FACT: On Febraury 17,1986, Robert Harris set a world altitude record of 49,009 ft flying a G102 Standard Astir III. This record lasted until 2006 and the glider can be found today in the National Air & Space Museum in Washington D.C.

In the 1980s, GROB Systems was founded in Bluffton, OH because of Dr. Grob’s passion of aircrafts. With the airfield nearby, Bluffton met the requirements of a modern machine manufacturing factory, as well as the demands of a modern glider plant. While Grob Aerospace was sold to H3 Aerospace in 2009, the passion for aerospace is still prevalent within the GROB Group.

A partner for 5-axis machining

We focus on what we do best. GROB only offers a uniquely superior horizontal solution for 5-axis machining. This means our people are experts in 5-axis applications and are ready to help you achieve your goals. As a family owned company, we continuously invest in our future by innovating to solve problems in the industry. Many of the features that make our machines unique address the day-to-day challenges in the component manufacturing process.

In addition to our superior machine design and kinematics, our applications team in Bluffton, OH is dedicated to providing the process support you need. We partner with the best suppliers in the industry for controls, CAD/CAM, tooling, etc., and can provide automation and Industry 4.0 solutions from our GROB product line. We come to you with a comprehensive solution from a single source.

Machine solutions

GROB designs and builds universal machining centers that are in a league of their own. Our machines are different from other 5-axis machines in several important ways:

 

  • The unique retractable spindle virtually eliminates the chance for collisions during tool change while maximizing the usable work area.
  • Ergonomic design that allows easy access to the work area and requires less floor space than other machines with the same work zone (buy one size smaller!).
  • Capabilities to invert the table and machine upside down for optimal chip evacuation.
  • A wide range of automation is available to achieve lights out production with optimal spindle utilization and production efficiency.
  • The superior horizontal design guarantees consistent rigidity through the entire Z-axis stroke, leading to unmatched accuracy. Our machine is the most rigid when the Z-axis is out at the part! This guarantees better tool life and productivity.
G350
G350
Details
G350

Working travels: 600/855/750
in X-/Y'-/Z-axis (mm)

 

Speeds (max.): 70/45/90 
in X-/Y'-/Z-axis (m/min)

 

Interference diameter: 720
(mm)

G550
G550
Details
G550

Working travels  800/1,020/970 
in X-/Y'-/Z-axis (mm)

 

Speeds (max.): 90/50/90 
in X-/Y'-/Z-axis (m/min)

 

Interference diameter: 900
(mm)

G750
G750
Details
G750

Working travels: 1,000/1,100/1,170
in X-/Y'-/Z-axis (mm)

 

Speeds (max.):  60/50/75
in X-/Y'-/Z-axis (m/min)

 

Interference diameter: 1,280
(mm)

G350T
G350T
Details
G350T

Working travels  600/855/750
in X-/Y'-/Z-axis (mm)

 

Speeds (max.): 70/45/90
in X-/Y'-/Z-axis (m/min)

 

Interference diameter: 600
(mm)

 

B'-axis speed: 1,200
nmax (rpm)

G550T
G550T
Details
G550T

Working travels: 800/1,020/970
in X-/Y'-/Z-axis (mm) 

 

Speeds (max.): 65/50/80
in X-/Y'-/Z-axis (m/min)

 

Interference diameter: 900
(mm)

 

B'-axis speed: 800
nmax (rpm)

G750T
G750T
Details
G750T

Working travels: 1,000/1,100/1,170
in X-/Y'-/Z-axis (mm)

 

Speeds (max.): 60/50/75
in X-/Y'-/Z-axis (m/min)

 

Interference diameter: 1,280
(mm)

 

B'-axis speed: 500
nmax (rpm)

Advanced options

We know standard and average aren’t good enough when it comes to producing aerospace parts. Through research and innovation, GROB has developed options to specifically meet the rigorous demands of the aerospace industry.

Table options

Standard tables
Standard tables

T-slot or pallet clamping

Dynamic table
Dynamic table

Highly efficient machining of large parts with short tools with an A-axis swivel range from -260○/ +80○

Tandem drive table
Tandem drive table

Suited for long, narrow components, such as blades

Accuracy package

Accuracy is the most important measurement in the aerospace industry. As a partner of the industry, GROB has developed an accuracy package to further improve the accuracy of the parts machined on a GROB. Our accuracy package features:
 

  • Innovative volumetric compensation cycles developed by GROB
  • Straightness measurements and compensation taken by laser at your facility
  • Thermal stabilization with 12 cooling points: motor spindle, A- and B-axis torque motors, X-, Y- and Z-axis servo drives, X- and Z-axis housing ball screw nut, X-, Y- and Z-axis guide ways, and coolant chiller

Emergency tool retract

GROB has implemented hardware and software to prepare machine and process for power outages or failures. The stop and retract function separates the part from the tool quickly and without risk of damage to the part.

Oil-machining solutions

We know that oil-machining is widely used in the aerospace industry, so our machines can be equipped with the following to meet the specific requirements of this specialized approach:
 

  • Filtration system (bag filter, cyclonic filter, vacuum rotation)
     
  • Safety features including adjusted enclosure and fire extinguishing systems
     
  • Special mist collector solutions

Drive Tuning

We can tune the machine and drives to your parts and process. This well help you achieve the best performance and airfoil surface while maintaining process safety and part accuracy. 

Made in the USA

Our machines are built at our impressive 400,000 square foot production facility located in Bluffton, Ohio. This means we have a complete inventory of every replacement part and factory-direct service is provided by the same team of experts who build the machines.

Aerospace expertise
Airfoils
Blisks
Valves and Manifolds
Structural Parts
1
Airfoils
2
Blisks
3
Valves and Manifolds
4
Structural Parts
Why manufacturers in aerospace choose GROB

"We had never seen a machine configured like this, and we were excited to see how the swiveling and rotating capability were combined in the table."

"You’re dealing with factory direct parts [GROB manufactures machine tools at its Bluffton, OH, plant] and technicians that are very knowledgeable and that was a big appeal for us.”

“We like the unique configuration of the spindle versus the worktable as the spindle comes in horizontally... You can machine unique cutting geometries and hard to reach areas. The configuration is also good for chip control.”

“If we have a problem that we’re trouble shooting, I can call GROB. They can log right into our machine, which is something that we’ve never had on any machine before, and they’ll trouble shoot for us. It really is a partnership with GROB.”

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