US firm Blue Photon has a new, photo-activated adhesive work-holding system, comprising patented grippers and inserts, intended for use with stabiliser systems marketed by Big Daishowa and others that add extra rigidity to tall components during machining. The ‘Workholding Stabilizer System’made its European debut at September’s EMO 2023 trade fair in Hanover.

The new system comprises a Blue Photon stabiliser puck, an adjustable stabiliser arm and a base mount, for which there are multiple options including T-slot, threaded-hole and magnetic. Users position the puck in an optimal location on the workpiece to provide maximum extra support during machining by transferring some of the cutting force to the machine table and structure.

Increased stability raises production throughput by allowing the programming of faster feeds and speeds without affecting the surface integrity of the part. It also increases yield by avoiding scrap and rework that could result from unstable clamping.

The puck attaches to the workpiece using grippers placed into fixed inserts. It is simply necessary to position the puck and turn on ultraviolet light from a Blue Photon controller to cure BlueGrip adhesive previously applied to the grippers. The process is complete in 60 seconds, minimising idle time and maximising throughput.

Further benefits include no need to drill and tap or otherwise clamp the part, while the absence of additional work-holding geometry means that cutter paths are unrestricted without necessarily extending cycle times.

Also on the stand at EMO was a selection of Blue Photon’s other adhesive work-holding products, which are suitable for securing awkwardly shaped and/or delicate parts to allow maximum access to tools during machining processes. They are equally suitable for use in assembly or inspection.
For further information www.ncmt.co.uk

Staubli and Mag-Autoblok Tecnomagnete say they have pooled their expertise totake the capabilities of magnetic clamping technology to the next level with the release of the QMC123 magnetic clamping system for injection moulding machines. An essential part of the co-development process for QMC123 was to ensure that the new system not only retained the previous system’s attributes of robustness and reliability, but also a level of familiarity for existing customers who have been using the current system since 2010.

QMC123 provides greater levels of information and features a new and easier-to-use operator touchscreen thatenables the validation of the various safety points during mould-changing operations. The IMAG-Editor software enables the calculation of clamping force for each mould prior to loading, based upon the customer’s specific press. This information highlights any potential problems ahead of production. Furthermore, intuitive guidance is availableto the operator, not only during set up, but also to assist in diagnosing warnings or error conditions, facilitating faster and safe resolution.

The manufacturing processes for the QMC123 magnetic platen design have also seen optimisation to guarantee better measurement accuracy of the clamping forces. In addition, the system is able to detect flux changes before actual mould movement takes place, further increasing safety.

As a further point, the QMC123 magnetic clamping solution will play a key role in SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Die) strategies by minimising the time between the last good part and the first good new part. Moreover, with its data acquisition capabilities, this new-generation technology is also compatible with the principles of Industry 4.0.
For further information www.staubli.com