Switch between vertical and horizontal tapping with new Flex arm

With barely a touch, the multi-axis FlexArm REM-24D electronic tapping arm with a multi-position head moved gracefully around the part, making it easy to tap a part where needed and helping to eliminate operator fatigue and reduce the possibility of repetitive motion injuries.

The tapping arm from Flex Machine Tools helps operators in shops of all sizes to work faster and more efficiently. "The arm's ergonomic design," explained Tyler Nowicki, inside sales, FlexArm, at Flex Machine Tools, "effortlessly articulates over the workpiece, making it simple to tap all holes wherever the are needed."

The articulated mechanical arm was designed for tapping holes in various positions on a workpiece, featuring a head that can be quickly adjusted to switch between vertical and horizontal tapping orientations, allowing for efficient operation on complex parts without needing to reposition the workpiece frequently, he said. 

The REM-24D Tapping Arm has a maximum reach of up to 70" (1,778 mm) and is designed for taps up to 7/8" (22 mm). Nowicki showed Cutting Tool Engineering editors how easy it is to move the tapping ahead around the part, which helped make the operation fast and easy, and also described how the device can minimize tap breakage.

"When the clutch activates (with an audible clicking noise)," said Nowicki, "It's going to save your tap from breaking off inside your part, so you don't have to rework parts and spend the time and money just fixing it. It pays for itself."

In addition, tool changing can be performed in literally seconds as he demonstrated when he took off the tapping tool and replaced it with another tool with a quick snap. In this demonstration, Nowicki swapped out the tapping tool with a chamfering tool. It could just as easily have been a reaming tool or other tool.

"You snap in the chamfering tool and in seconds put a nice little chamfer on all these holes," he said.

Another quick-and-easy time saver and quality enhancer is a filtered lubricator that Nowicki said "separate(s) any debris, any water that may be in your airline. You can also lubricate the motor as it's going. It's a nice, easy oil-operated system."

Also at the booth was the FlexArm Mag Drill Arm that the company said reduces operator fatigue and increases safety and efficiency. The ergonomic Mag Drill Arm offsets the drill’s weight by effectively reducing up to 75 lbs. (34 kg) of strain on an operator’s body. The Arm provides a working range of up to 100" (2,540 mm) of horizontal reach and 52" (1,320 mm) of vertical stroke, resulting in precision and versatility across a broad range of drilling operations.

Flex also demonstrated its B-33-RG Balance Arm for handheld grinders, designed to fit the specific grinder make/model. The Balance Arm offers full range of motion and has a counterbalance capacity of 1-25 lbs., a reach range of 1" - 72" and 90 PSI air pressure.

Also showcased was the FlexArm Part Manipulator that can position parts, unload tools and hold workpieces. The tool is engineered to function in cramped workspaces where simple overhead cranes are not possible, the company says.