RPI UK, a specialist developer and manufacturer of precision positioning devices for high-accuracy rotary and angular inspection systems, has supplied Wenzel’s Bulgarian distributer with a QuadSlimLine rotary table. The rotary table will integrate into a Wenzel CMM, enabling a European aerospace giant to measure aero engine disks up to 40% faster.

RPI’s rotary tables are a good addition to high-precision CMMs. Specifically designed as a fourth axis, the rotary tables are accurate to ±0.5 arc-seconds: equivalent to hitting a golf ball at a hole located more than 22 km away and scoring a hole-in-one every time. As well as significantly improving overall CMM measurement accuracy and reducing uncertainty, rotary tables greatly increase the available measuring volume, providing greater flexibility in what users can measure. 

“When it comes to measuring symmetrical or prismatic components, it’s all about simplifying your measuring procedures, increasing your CMM’s application range and effective measuring volume,” explains RPI’s sales manager Jim Palmer. “In turn, this will increase the flexibility, productivity and efficiency of your CMM.”

The installation of the QuadSlimLine on to the Wenzel CMM was carried out by 2M Trading, the Bulgarian distributor for both RPI and Wenzel.

Timothy Matyushin, 2M’s general manager, says: “We installed RPI’s Quad Slimline on to Wenzel’s CMM LH108 NG, which incorporates a Renishaw UCC S5 controller and Renishaw Modus software. The result is a CMM that works smarter with increased flexibility, capacity and throughput, ultimately delivering a 40% reduction in inspection time for one of Europe’s major aerospace manufacturers. The customer is so impressed, they’ve ordered another two QuadSlimLine rotary tables for installation to CMMs before the end of the year.”

More information www.rpiuk.com

Mitsubishi Materials has launched a dedicated range of tool holders to complement the huge range of geometries and types available in its iMX series of solid-carbide exchangeable end mills. The company says that the mono-block type holder greatly reduces tool overhang compared with standard milling chucks. A mono-block holder also allows stable machining, even with larger diameter tools, thereby achieving high-efficiency machining.

When using a standard milling chuck, a screw-in type shank is necessary, which machine shops can also negate when using a mono-block type holder to reduce costs. An added feature is the undercut at the bottom of the neck, making it suitable for vertical wall machining.

The iMX series is an end-mill system that combines the advantages of both solid-carbide and
indexable end mills. Performance advantages and savings are available, especially in long overhang applications. Exchangeable heads negate the cost of extra-long solid-carbide end mills.

A key feature is the double face contact of carbide head and holder that enables security and rigidity close to that of a solid-type end mill. This is possible because the taper and end-clamping faces of the head and the holder are both solid carbide, with only the threaded
part composed of steel. Benefits of this secure and accurate clamping method compared with the usual steel-to-carbide method are greater efficiency from increased cutting parameters, improved accuracy and more reliability.

A broad spread of applications is made possible not just by the strong and reliable clamping system, but by the EP7020 coated-carbide grade. This fine, hard carbide substrate has an (Al,Cr)N Smart Miracle coating that Mitsubishi Materials says delivers substantially better wear resistance than conventional coatings.

More information www.mmc-carbide.com

By upgrading its master adaptor from HSK to Walter Capto, tool manufacturer Walter is launching a new system interface. The interface incorporates concealed balancing holes, which were previously on the outside of the tool.

This balanced construction created at the Walter factory also incorporates an integral chip hole. As a result, there is no longer any need for the user to drill this hole. It provides machine shops with the possibility of digital tool integration for automated tool management, for example. This is because users can save tool data such as dimensions by inserting a data chip into the tool ready for reading out when required, like for activities such as programming or archiving. Walter offers the modular adaptor (HA06-C and HA10-C) from HSK-A to Walter Capto with HSK-A 63 or HSK-A 100 interface in Capto sizes C3-C8.

End users will benefit from high levels of process reliability and precision as the adaptor is very rigid. A further advantage is precise repeat accuracy down to 2 µm during tool changes.

Inherent versatility makes the system suitable for all types of adaptors, such as Weldon, ER collets and hydraulic expansion chucks, or milling adaptors with arbors for milling and hole-making. The system is thus compatible with all kinds of machines, from machining centres through to multi-tasking machines.

Users of data storage devices can open up their entire range of tools with the master adaptor thanks to its suitability for use with all types of machine and machining operation.

More information www.walter-tools.com

A new range of electrically actuated swing clamps capable of generating high forces for securing workpieces during machining is now available from Roemheld UK. Manufactured by Roemheld’s German parent company alongside established pneumatically actuated variants, users can control the latest clamps individually or in multiples. The maintenance-free units are suitable for mounting vertically or horizontally, and work well as part of automated work-holding solutions.

Driven by a wear-resistant, brushless, 24 VDC motor via a gear and threaded spindle, the device requires only 3 mm of axial lift before the clamping arm swivels. According to the model in use, it rotates by either by 90 or 180°, clockwise or counter-clockwise. Other swing angles are available on request. The electronic control for the motor is built into the swing clamp housing and has its own 24 VDC/100 mA power supply.

Two variants of swing clamp are available, 1833 and 1835, the latter having a higher clamping force. For both models, which carry an IP67 ingress protection rating, users can adjust and monitor the force, its maximum value depending on the length of arm deployed. It takes approximately 3 seconds to secure or release a component. Should the power supply fail, there is no loss of clamping pressure.

During unclamping, the arm swings back to its starting position. Should it meet an obstruction during motion, in either direction, automatic and instantaneous motor switch-off protects the mechanism from overload.

More information www.roemheld.co.uk