Toolholding & Workholding

Whether an application involves simultaneous 5-axis machining or five-sided (3+2) machining, the workholders and fixturing techniques from the 3-axis world typically won't apply, according to John Zaya, workholding product manager for BIG KAISER Precision Tooling Inc., Hoffman Estates, Ill.

High density, high accuracy and flexibility to accommodate different part sizes or multiple parts are benefits of Kurt's SeraLock Towers, and WedgeLock and MoveLock workholding modules.

The induction shrinking station line-up from Pokolm Frästechnik has been expanded with the fully automatic station TSI11000WKS. The coil and arbor of the new stand-alone station move fully automatically thanks to a pneumatic drive. The 50-litre coolant tank ensures fast cooling of both the arbor and the cooling medium.

With more than 75,000 implemented, customer-specific solutions, SCHUNK has been developing and manufacturing hydraulic expansion arbors for high-precision applications in milling, hobbing, turning, grinding, assembly, inspection and balancing for over 35 years. The hydraulic expansion technology is now with VERO-S Module quick-change capabilites.

SCHUNK says its MAGNOS parallel pole, square pole, and radial pole plates ensure reliable workpiece clamping, quick workpiece changes, and particularly efficient processes in grinding applications. Among other things, SCHUNK MAGNOS square pole grinding plates boost productivity by up to 200 percent, compared to conventional solutions using parallel-pole technology.

One requirement of precision wheel manufacturing is secure, accurate workholding. But Jay Duerr, president of LMC Workholding Inc., Logansport, Ind., said it goes much further than that. "The biggest requirement in this industry is good customer support."

Collet pad top jaw systems from Dillon Manufacturing Inc. can convert through-hole chucks to hold small bar and tube stock. Collet pads can be changed quickly maximizing production time, and the jaws can be adapted to many styles of chucks, making them ideal for special purpose function machining.

Boca Bearing Co. has expanded its existing inventory of machine tool spindle bearings and angular contact bearings in both standard and ceramic hybrid styles. Modern manufacturing calls for extremely precise and reliable machining.

Kitagawa NorthTech Inc. introduces a new series of grinding steady rests. The grinding steady rests feature two models supported with turnkey design, build and installation capabilities dedicated to grinding applications. The new fully retracting KRGU steady rests and GHS steady rests are suitable for grinding camshafts, crankshafts and other cylindrical applications where accuracy and repeatability are essential.

Nanodiamond material specialist Carbodeon of Finland has worked with metal finishing specialist CCT Plating of Germany to develop a new NanoDiamond-enhanced electroless nickel plating with significantly improved performance in sliding applications. Electroless nickel coatings offer many advantages over other coating types, such as excellent corrosion and abrasion resistance, creating an even coating thickness over complex geometries and at relatively low cost, according to the company.

Hoffmann Group knows that with the growing complexity of production and the increased diversity of components, new challenges in the production process arise for customers. Available from Hoffmann Group USA is the GARANT ZeroClamp system, a highly accurate clamping system for the metalworking industry.