Toolholding & Workholding

The technology to form, press and grind indexable carbide inserts has evolved to such a high degree that the methods to effectively clamp inserts in a cutter body have struggled to keep up, but strides are being made. Some insert shapes have advanced to the point where they have a true, 100-percent, 3D geometry with almost no flat surfaces. This requires a tool-body pocket that is dynamically shaped to accommodate the optimal geometry. For example, an insert with a wavelike feature across its back requires it be seated in a pocket with a matching shape to ensure accurate fixation with high stability.

Dillon Chuck Jaws announces a new line Air Chuck Jaws including both Style M and Style R, such as those often machined using air chucks. CNC-machined for accuracy, the pins serve as a locator and allow precise repeatability plus fast installation.

The Positrol cartridge arbor with interior swing clamps is designed to increase part rigidity during machining operations without interfering with tool paths.

Northfield Precision Instrument Corp. introduces its customized Model 650 chuck. This chuck has been engineered using one chuck and two sets of flexing jaws.

Developed for the world's most intensive cutting applications, Secure Grip is an easy to use system that locks the collet and cutter into the holder.

I'm not a huge fan of machinist's vises. Even with a speed handle and a couple cups of coffee in your belly, it seems like it takes forever to crank them open wide enough to change a pair of jaws. And once they're bolted in place, having to tap them in with a hammer and check them with a dial indicator only adds insult to injury. Surely there's a smarter way to hold parts in a machining center.

With Kitagawa/NorthTech Worlkholding's automated pallet jaw system, robotic automation is a viable solution for low- and moderate-volume parts production in a CNC lathe.

Riten introduces a modified face driver specifically designed to hold workpieces with diameters of 2" or less. In lieu of individual drive pins, the unit features a multi-toothed drive disk that securely penetrates the face of the part. It is ideal for gear hobbing and other aggressive machining operations.

Ever machined parts so small that they not only fit on a penny but can sit on old Abe's nose? Cutting parts and part features in this Tom Thumb world often comes with Titanic-sized challenges, such as unexpected cutting tool breakage, deburring parts the size of typical burrs and machine tool spindles speeds that come up short. Sometimes just handling ultrasmall parts is a gargantuan task.

Techniks magnetic chucks are a fast workholding solution that reduces mold setup and/or changeover time by 50 percent, and allows machining on five sides. Use magnetic workholding for all types of milling, drilling, through-hole drilling and boring operations on all sizes of molds or other workpieces.

Schenck Corp. says its Tooldyne balancer is a unique offering for balancing tools and toolholders. Today's high-speed tool and toolholder industries demand accurate, fast and reliable solutions for their tooling needs. For these reasons, Schenck developed the Tooldyne balancing machine, the complete balancing system for tools and tool holders.

The centroteX System from HAINBUCH America offers significant advantages to manufacturers processing multiple parts of varying sizes requiring various clamping methods.