Workholding

Collet Chucks Overcome Distortion for Automated Gear Machining
To accommodate its customers’ need for just-in-time orders of small batches of gears, this company’s automated manufacturing cells rely on collet chucks that overcome a common distortion issue arising from tapping and heat treatment.&nbs...

Precision Workholding Matters
This article explains some of the advancements in precision workholding demands and the solutions that are available to improve production and quality in shops making precision parts.

How Intelligent Clamping Technology Can Contribute to Process-Flow Optimization
Germany’s Metav 2018 trade fair presented various hands-on solutions in regard to Industry 4.0, automation, digitalization and data-driven manufacturing. One topic that stood out was intelligent clamping technology with integrat...

Cable-Free Tombstones Bring New Life to HMC Operations
Programmable rotary units built into a double-sided tombstone extend unattended operation and add flexibility to palletized machining cells.

With Face Drivers, Shop Faces Long Cycle Times Head On
By switching from jaw chucks to face drivers, a manufacturer of large shaft components was able to reduce the number of setups, cutting cycle times on some parts from days to hours.

December 2017 Product Spotlight: EDM
This month’s Modern Equipment Review Spotlight focuses on wire and drilling EDMs as well as EDM-ready CAM software, workholding and more.

Buying an HMC: Tooling and Workholding Considerations
Is it time to move up to an HMC? Let’s look at tooling- and workholding-related concerns that those interested in acquiring an HMC will want to keep in mind.

Workholding System Suits Five-Axis Machining by Clamping Underneath
The clearance is an added benefit of the quick-change system, potentially facilitating five-axis as an automation tool.

3D Printing for “Hybrid” Tooling
An aerospace contractor added a 3D printer to help make custom tooling. In many cases, this means combining printed and machined components.

Hot Temperatures (and Technologies) at Eastec 2017
Eastec’s peculiar Massachusetts venue offered the chance to sample a broad variety of advanced manufacturing technologies. Here is a slideshow and some impressions from the trade show.