Toolholding & Workholding

Tired of your wimpy 5C indexer or NC rotary table giving up its position faster than a politician after an election? Maybe it's time to supersize that commodity indexer.

The foundation of robust and successful CNC milling and drilling processes consists of numerous elements, including high-quality machine tools, sturdy work holders and high-performance cutting tools. Toolholders are another of the basic elements.

Mark Larson, a titanium process R&D manager for Makino Inc., answers 10 questions about machining titanium alloys.

The CARVEsmart quick change vise jaw system from Bellatex Industries is designed for production and tool-room applications replacing the often cumbersome, conventional method of attaching vise jaws to a vise using face mounted cap screws.

OML's VariClamp modular clamping system from Lexair Inc. uses a floating mechanism of fixed and moveable jaws and a variety of gripper forms to provide custom clamping of irregular-shaped workpieces, including round, curved, elliptical, rectangular, stepped and slanted parts.

Northfield Precision Instrument Corp. introduces its Model 870 sliding-jaw air chuck (.0001 TIR).

Turned or bored soft blank top jaws from Dillon manufacturing provide a smooth gripping surface that holds the work piece snugly as a result of a greater coefficient of friction with no marring of the workpiece.

Hydraulic vises ofer accurate workholding for workpieces large and small.

Meditation helps develop cutting strategies.

Gerardi Precision Modular Vises are reportedly designed to cover most machine shop workholding needs at lowest cost.

Eriez Bar Magnets, available in a variety of sizes, can be used in a range of metalworking applications.

Kurt's 3-In-One Jaw System is a fast and easy way to set vise jaws at any of these seven popular angles: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 45 degrees.