Toolholders & Workholding

J.W. Winco Inc., New Berlin, Wis., recently announced the availability of GN 854 Latch Clamps with Trigger Function in metric sizes. The RoHS-compliant latch clamps are said to feature a highly robust, sturdy and compact design that enables their use under demanding conditions, according to a Feb. 17 news release from J.W. Winco.

Featuring tribologically optimized plastic lead screw nuts and hard anodized aluminum screws, new dryspin lead screw options offer considerable weight savings, as well as the reduction of required maintenance and external lubrication, with dramatic increases in service life due, according to igus Inc., East Providence, R.I.

The ROTA NCX, a power lathe chuck from SCHUNK, Morrisville, S.C., features a quick jaw change system and a large through-hole, according to a Feb. 17 announcement from the company. Optimized with reduced-weight, the ROTA NCX is described by the company as an essential upgrade over conventional lathe chucks.

Walther Trowal GmbH & Co. KG, Haan, Germany, recently introduced "trowalplast HDC," a newly developed, fast-cutting plastic media said to be ideal for grinding and surface smoothing of metal workpieces, especially die-castings, the company announced in a Feb. 11 news release.

Briney Tooling Systems, Bad Axe, Mich., recently expanded its test bar offering to include CAT40 and CAT50 models; BT30, BT40 and BT50 models, and HSK50A, HSK63A, HSK80A and HSK100A models, according to a Feb. 9 news release. Briney also offers special test bar designs.

The machines in the VMC MT Series from EMAG LLC, Farmington Hills, Mich., are said to be ideal production systems for chucked parts with complex geometries, according to the company. Whether used for prototype production or for fast changes in small production runs, the VMC MT series is designed to meet the demands of flexible production situations due to the ergonomic accessibility of the machining area and the bottom-mounted workpiece spindle.

Emuge Corp., West Boylston, Mass., a manufacturer of taps, thread mills, toolholders, clamping devices and other rotary cutting tools, today announced the expansion of its patented Softsynchro® tap holder line, adding two new holder sizes. Constructed from precision-ground body and shank sections, Softsynchro's patented design is said to significantly increase tool life and performance.

Schunk Inc. offers modular clamping columns that enable direct clamping of molding plates, freeform parts and other workpieces on the machine table without additional clamping devices or interfering contours. The clamping pillars ensure collision-free processes, a defined clamping situation and a reliable simulation of the machining process, according to the company.

Northern Engineering and Manufacturing (NEMI) has released a vacuum chuck compatible with both horizontal and vertical machining centers. This fixture can used either with the Kurt 4-face cage or on a machine bed and is completely compatible with all of NEMI's standard vacuum fixturing.

BIG KAISER Precision Tooling Inc., Hoffman Estates, Ill., this month introduced the RBX12 Air Power Spindle, a high-speed, air-driven spindle said to be capable of achieving a variable rotational speed of 100,000rpm to 120,000rpm, according to a BIG KAISER news release issued Jan. 18.

"TM" series tool storage magazine assemblies are electro-mechanically driven and easy to install. They do not require any pneumatics or hydraulics, and, as such, are extremely reliable, repetitive and low maintenance. The bi-directional magazines are available in three standard frame sizes with or without a linear slide and designed to accommodate CAT 30, 40 and 50, plus the equivalent range of BT, ISO and HSK style toolholders, offered with standard storage capacities of 12, 20 or 30 tools with other capacities being available upon request.

Italian workholding manufacturer Gerardi SPA offers its new line of self-centering CompactGRIP vises for 5-axis machining. The line offers higher clamping power than existing vises, because the clamping screw design is positioned very close to the workpiece and the integral design of slides and jaws, according to the company.