WORKHOLDING, ACCESSORIES & BARFEEDS CLAMPING DOWN ON INEFFICIENCY
Latest workholding products in brief
Suited to metalcutting operations on
5-axis machining centres, Roemheld UK’s
xed-jaw SCS vices from its Hilma division
offer repeatability of positioning to within
±10 micron. The stability of the clamping
systems and high retention force resulting
from the use of a reversible jaw mean
there is no need to pre-stamp a
workpiece before it is secured,
even when it is clamped on
just a few millimetres of
material. Various base
lengths up to 350 mm
are offered, with
clamping ranges to 300
mm, while clamping force
is up to 40 kN at 100 Nm
torque. More details:
https://is.gd/ibinap
Now available in the UK from
Leader Chuck (https://is.gd/
akequh) is the newly developed
Orange Delta IV compact vices
and zero-point sub-plates for
use in multi-axis and high density milling
set-ups. The patent-pending Orange Delta
IV vices feature a small 150 by 100 mm
footprint and an integral zero-point
interface – cross compatible with the
company’s proprietary locating systems –
as well as 52 mm pull-stud interfaces from
other brands. Unlike self-centring vices
common in the industry, the Orange Delta
IV uses a novel serrated design that is
said to combine the best of self-centring
vices and serrated xtures.
The automated Swift from entering the mechanism
Klamp for use on
machining centres
Following the launch earlier this year of
Porsche, Daimler, Bosch and ZF.
Together with workholding expert Röhm
(https://is.gd/etofut), WESA managed to
address the issue presented where no
workpiece steady-rest is provided in an
existing lathe turret. In such situations, to
avoid retro tting a hydraulics unit to control
a turret-mounted steady rest, WESA and
Röhm came up with a solution that uses
coolant pressure to signal the steady-rest to
clamp as per the program (the system is
opened via spring pressure).
WESA wanted to use a steady-rest with
its DMG Mori Sprint 50 CNC lathe. Röhm
had to deliver a unit with a clamping range
the manual Swift Klamp HSK workholding
system for use on machining centres,
1st Machine Tool Accessories has
introduced a robotic loading and unloading
arrangement based on the same principle
(pictured). The automatic system, which
maximises spindle uptime, uses a deeper
clamping head to accommodate
the low pressure (35 bar)
hydraulics, and a mounting
plate with dedicated
adapter to suit a 3-, 4-
or 5-axis vertical or
horizontal machining
centre. Pneumatic
detection of correct
head seating ensures
accurate machining and
the elimination of scrap,
while air blow from the
underside prevents swarf
during exchange. More details:
https://is.gd/oduxil
The newly developed Erowa Robot Easy
800 is an automated system that delivers
components to a machine’s working
envelope that can measure up to 850 mm
in diameter by 1,000 mm long and with a
maximum weight of 800 kg. A central
set-up station that has a swivel crane
assists the operator’s daily work
considerably. Here, rotatable magazine
plates simplify set-up and preparation,
while pre-centring facilitates pallet
positioning with crane and lift gear.
UK availability is via REM Systems
(https://is.gd/xehowi).
of 18 to 36 mm for use in the machine
tool’s small working envelope.
Two oil hydraulic connections are normal
in a standard turret, but since WESA did not
want to install another medium in the
machine, the idea of using the coolant and
existing line to trigger the control
commands started to take shape.
“To explain further, we wanted the CNC
to move the opened turret into position,
whereby the ‘coolant on’ signal would
follow,” explains WESA’s production
manager, Johannes Weber. “The clamping
arms of the steady-rest would then close,
with the workpiece now rmly supported and
ready for the next machining step.
Subsequently, the return spring force would
open the clamping arms of the steady-rest.”
Something that sounds very easy often
turns out to be dif cult in practice. Coolant
lines sometimes have a non-return valve,
which prevents a return ow of the coolant,
and this proved to be the case with the
Sprint 50. To avoid the spring having to work
against the coolant pressure in the return
line and create disturbance in the ow, a
bypass was needed in the shape of a
specially created relief valve. Jointly
designed by Röhm and WESA, the solution
meant the coolant could ow without
hindrance.
Back in the UK, and switching to
prismatic machining, Oakham-based Hi-Spec
Precision Engineering has recently taken
delivery of a Midaco pallet changer supplied
by Hyfore Engineering (https://is.gd/zecece).
Company director Darren Grainger selected
the Midaco system following a project
intended to make Hi-Spec’s machining
processes more ef cient. The company has
introduced the system to its Hurco (https://
is.gd/utebev) VM5i CNC vertical machining
centre, where it will soon begin boosting
productivity and helping to grow the
business.
“We are now undertaking the rst test
runs on our Midaco pallet changer,” states
Grainger. “The idea is to increase the
spindle uptime on our Hurco VM5i by having
part changeovers take place outside of the
machine, while it is running. We’ve had a
year of change here at Hi-Spec, embracing
workholding automation to ensure we are
ready for the future.”
The Rohm work-steady
in action at WESA
46 January 2020 www.machinery.co.uk @MachineryTweets
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