Toolholding & Workholding

Bob Warfield of The CNCCookbook addresses an old saying in the machine shop world that suggests real money is made from having great fixturing. Is that really true? Does every job benefit from fancy fixturing? As good as it often is, great fixturing may not always be the right answer.

SCHUNK has developed a completely sealed miniature clamping module specifically for compact applications in the metalcutting industry, assembly and handling, as well as for measurement technology. It combines compact dimensions, high pull-down and holding forces, a high dimensional stability and a high repeat accuracy of < 0.005 mm.

Mitee-Bite Products completed the design and development of a new style concentric outside diameter (OD) clamping tool. Repeats within tenths, compact for high-density application and tough enough to limit yourself to tooling capabilities.

Toolholders are the critical connection between a cutting tool and a machine tool spindle. A toolholder's performance dictates productive output, part surface finish and cutter life. With the right toolholder for the application at hand, shops gain maximum benefit from their high-performance cutting tools and machine tools.

Electro-permanent magnetic workholders offer multiple advantages — even for nonmagnetic parts.

Designed differently than conventional-style vises, Palmgren's combination anvil and bench vise features a horn, step, a hardened face and hardy hole. It comes with replaceable serrated jaws, pipe jaws and a precision machined slide bar.

SCHUNK Electronic Solutions has developed Magnoplate – a universal workpiece holder for depaneling machines that places magnetic carrier pins with a milling head on a support plate. This results in lightning fast brackets for new assembly groups.

Alpha Workholding Solutions LLC provides a brief demonstration of its electro-permanent magnetic workholders.

Three years ago, SCHUNK launched the slim hydraulic expansion toolholder TENDO Slim 4ax, which received great attention. Its precision mounting combines the outside geometry of heat shrinking mountings according to DIN 69882-8 with the proven qualities of SCHUNK hydraulic expansion technology. SCHUNK now launches a version with cool-flow technology that allows for highly effective cooling via tool mountings.

Nueva Precision, Milliken, Colorado, is, for the most part, Eddie Casanueva and his wife Leandra operating out of a garage. And while many job shop owners would want to grow and expand their businesses, the Casanuevas are content with keeping the shop at its current size because, according to them, customers benefit from dealing directly with the person making their parts. This, as well as the shop's advanced manufacturing technology, makes Nueva Precision a trusted partner to its customers and an agile supplier.

SMW Autoblok introduces the WPS/APS workpiece positioning system featuring manual zero point clamping system used in a variety of machining applications, including turning, milling, inspection and finishing.

Machine shops looking to utilize tombstone workholding fixtures on their horizontal machining centers should know about the economical and convenient way of setting-up their machine using Kurt VersatileLock vises mounted back-to-back. The VersatileLock tombstone setup can be used on a wide range of existing HMCs, particularly smaller ones with work envelope size and weight limitations. The VersatileLock back-to-back tombstone can be 200 to 300 lbs. lighter (depending on model size) than a tombstone with clamps or vises.