Exceptional demand at Zoro

Online retailer Zoro supplies businesses across all industries with tools and equipment from a range of more than 310,000 products.

Over recent weeks the company has seen a huge surge in demand, with Zoro staff working non-stop to keep UK industry moving. However, although the company is working at full capacity to fulfil orders, customers are being advised to expect a slightly longer delivery time due to the unprecedented demand.
Chris Matenaers, marketing director at Zoro says: “Compared with the same period last year we’ve seen demand across some products more than double. Our teams are working longer than usual hours to get much-needed supplies out of the door, keeping UK industry workforces safe.”
For further information www.zoro.co.uk

Clamp almost all part geometries

SMW Autoblok has introduced the four-in-one Centco4 2+2 self-centring and compensating chuck. According to the company, the Centco4’s engineering and flexibility enables it to securely and efficiently clamp virtually any type or shape of geometric part, including round, cubic, angular and irregular.

The Centco4 is available in both power and manual models, and is suitable for deformation-sensitive workpieces. With its four jaws, Centco4 provides four times less deformation compared with three-jaw clamping and can be used on all industry-specific machine tools. The ability to handle virtually any part shape means fewer chuck change-outs and reduced downtime. Diverse manual and hydraulic applications include turning, milling, inspection and
finishing operations.
Some of the many Centco4 benefits are that it features two independent self-centring and compensating jaws, and single wedge actuation that eliminates the need for a dual-piston cylinder. SMW Autoblok’s latest innovation is said to be suitable for aerospace and automotive manufacturers seeking a standard chuck that can clamp any part geometry.
The drive of the Centco4 moves toward or apart on two parallel axes, and needs only one standard-stroke, single-piston cylinder for actuation. This design allows for independent self-centring via both axes. Centrifugal force compensation permits maximum rotational speeds up to 210 kN of gripping force with an optimised lubrication system that saves both time and money in repairs and maintenance. Four sizes are available in the power version, while a variety of precision jaws is also offered.
For further information www.smw-autoblok.de

Controlling vibration and accuracy

Troisdorf-based Mannstaedt, a specialist in the production of hot-rolled special profiles, recently sought a high-quality clamping device for its heavy-duty machining operations, duly finding the solution from gripping and clamping technology expert Röhm.

At Röhm, customer-specific developments comprise around 40% of business. In this case, the special HZS-798×180 high-pressure vice includes an integrated measuring system, while the active pull-down is controllable, reaching up to 60 kN per clamping jaw. These high-pressure clamps have been used in duplicate for around three years on a machine with a working space of around 1 m.
“We are now able to master vibrations safely and achieve the high dimensional accuracy that we want,” confirms Björn Wieschendorf, operations manager for processing.
Due to this experience, Röhm was again the first choice as a clamping device supplier when an older system was replaced in 2019 on a Matec milling machine. This has 3 m of work space, is suitable for automated processes and is equipped with a total of four HZS-798×180 vices. For heavy workpieces, the machine can be loaded from above using a crane, while lateral feed is also possible for automated processes, for example.
The main advantages of this clamping technology compared with the previous product include better repeat accuracy, greater clamping forces and higher rigidity within the clamp. Discussions are currently underway to replace a manual clamping technology solution with an automated system.
HZS-798×180 clamping devices work centrically and achieve an accuracy of 0.03 mm. Active lowering of workpieces can be controlled up to 150 bar hydraulic actuation pressure, while the 170 kg clamps for precision and blank clamping can be moved on the machine and are suitable for workpiece automation.
For further information www.roehm.biz

Set-up times reduced

US-manufactured Chick System 5 work-holding equipment, supplied in the UK through sole agent 1st Machine Tool Accessories, is helping to increase productivity and efficiency in the machine shop of Axminster Tools & Machinery, located in Devon. The company is an online and high street retailer of tools and machinery that it imports from global suppliers. However, Axminster chooses to manufacture some machine accessories, including the Clubman SK80 woodturning chuck, in-house to ensure quality.

Historically, standard wind-up vices were used to fixture components for machining on CNC mills and machining centres, but as production levels rose they became too inefficient. Then, a new job came along that required particularly accurate clamping of multiple small parts, namely steel jaws for chucks.
To provide a solution, 1st MTA proposed its Chick Qwik-Lok system, which significantly reduces set-up times as the jaws secure components quickly and to high repeatability for milling and drilling. One large part can be clamped between two jaws, but to allow more parts to be loaded at a time, a pair of components, or multiples, are held in two stations. Aluminium jaws machined with the profile of the parts to be held ensure they are retained firmly during machining.
Once Axminster Tools & Machinery adopted this procedure, clamping several steel mounting jaws in each Qwik-Lok station, productivity was increased. The machine operator is able to change over up to six Qwik-Loks on a VMC table in half an hour, four times faster than when previously using the bespoke steel fixture plate. Moreover, the latter had the drawback of potentially causing damage to the cutter in the event of a programming error, whereas this is not the case with aluminium jaws.
For further information www.1mta.com

Virtual exhibition from Made in Group

With the news that the ‘Made In the Midlands’ and ‘Made in Yorkshire’ exhibitions will no longer go ahead due to COVID-19, the Made in Group has introduced Backing Britain Live 2020 – an immersive, virtual experience.

Jason Pitt, CEO of the Made in Group, says: “These exhibitions are significant events to which many members and visitors look forward but, like many aspects of our current lives, we’ve had to make adjustments. Although I predict full-scale lockdown will not continue into the summer, government leads us to believe that social distancing measures will remain for months to come. Large-scale gatherings will remain unsafe until the population has some immunity or the virus is eradicated. Despite this, I’m pleased to say that we’ve found an alternative way of delivering our expos safely and innovatively.”
On 17 August 2020, the Made in Group will launch a digital exhibition. Called Backing Britain Live 2020, the event will be an immersive experience between the digital and physical.
“We’re an innovative organisation when it comes to technology; we do more than many realise,” says Pitt. “As a business, we’ve developed a digital platform that allows members to create their own social media microsite, upload news and attend virtual webinars, and will soon include virtual mastermind groups, Q&A sessions and panel discussions.”
The event will be hosted at backingbritain.com, where the entire exhibition hall will have virtual access to booths, interactive seminars and networking areas. According to the Made in Group, the process will be very user friendly and easy to navigate. Not only will visitors have a unique experience online, but they will receive physical goodie bags delivered to their door that are set to include: the 100-page Backing Britain 2020 book, consisting of positive manufacturing news and information about exhibitors; a large printed poster of the exhibition hall; a Backing Britain lanyard; and social posters.
For further information www.backingbritain.com