Shrink-fit chucks enhance precision: 5-Axis Machining

END USER: Starrag USA Inc., (859) 534-5201, www.starrag.com.SOLUTION PROVIDER: Haimer USA LLC, (630) 833-1500, www.haimer-usa.com.CHALLENGE: Find a suitable toolholder to handle precision machining.SOLUTION: Shrink-fit chucks.

Machining centers from Starrag AG are available as turnkey solutions, including software, clamping fixtures, toolholders and peripheral accessories. The company, located in Rorschacherberg, Switzerland, provides 5-axis machining centers capable of high metal-removal rates to produce turbine blades, impellers, blisks and other structurally complex parts for industries such as aerospace and energy. (Starrag USA Inc. is located in Hebron, Ky.)

Because the company has been using a 30,000-rpm spindle for 20-plus years, it realizes the importance of toolholding. “In the past, our cutting tools were usually clamped with Weldon or whistle-notch holders and collet chucks, which led to many problems because of the insufficient runout accuracy they provide,” said Patrick Rutishauser, head of application engineering at Starrag. “At high rotational speeds, even small deviations can lead to poor milling results, inferior surface quality and tool and spindle wear. Also, the geometry of these toolholders has many interfering contours, which make it impossible to reach deep cavities with minimally clamped tools.”

According to Patrick Rutishauser, head of application engineering at Starrag, Haimer professionalized the shrink-fit process. Images courtesy Starrag.

Starrag utilizes Haimer shrink-fit chucks due to their rotationally symmetric clamping bodies.