A choice of effective clamping devices for tool and workpiece avoids expensive changeover times and helps to utilise the machine tool’s potential more effectively. With this in mind, the Precision Tool Association in the VDMA (German Engineering Federation), under the aegis of the METAV exhibition last month, hosted the 3rd Clamping Technology Forum.

Intelligent holding and clamping systems are becoming progressively more important in manufacturing operations, particularly as companies are increasingly having to deal with thin-walled and very small workpieces, as well as lightweight components. Here, intelligent clamping systems offer a huge potential for optimisation, although they also have “advantages when machining medium and small batch sizes with automated parts handling, and wherever comprehensive process monitoring is required”, says Henrik Schunk, managing partner of workholding specialist Schunk GmbH.
At Metav, Schunk gave a presentation on the importance of the toolholder in the production process. The company introduced an app with which a user can receive operating states of angle heads as raw data on his mobile terminal, enabling him or her to take countermeasures against production errors conveniently over a smartphone.
Angle heads are “very cost-efficient and flexible components designed to significantly expand the functionality of machine tools. Nowadays they are essential in an innovative metalcutting strategy,” explains Konrad Keck from Benz GmbH. Advantages and possible applications of magnetic and vacuum-based clamping techniques were also showcased at Metav.
Overall, experts presented numerous solutions, which thanks to the optimised deployment of clamping devices, can render the production process more efficient and cost effective.
For further information www.metav.com

At the forthcoming MACH 2018 exhibition, Roemheld (Hall 20, Stand 444) will introduce a range of wedge clamping elements with patented safety bolts designed to attach a die set to the table and ram of a power press securely, regardless of whether the tool edges are straight or angled. A positive locking action allows even a heavy upper die to remain in place during maintenance or if the clamping pressure drops. The clamps move automatically, making them easy to operate, while a position control feature verifies closure and release, and reports if no die has been placed or if the edge is incorrectly set.

The system consists of a hydraulic cylinder block and a bolt guided within a housing; the bolt having a contact surface angled at 20°. A projection on the bolt and a corresponding recess along the die edge ensure positive locking if the hydraulic pressure holding the upper die should fail.
Adapter plates for simple attachment to existing dies make the retrofitting process trouble-free. The wedge clamping elements, with single or dual action, exert a force from 25 to 1250 kN. They are available to suit straight and angled die edges, and are designed in a variety of styles, allowing customers to configure clamping arrangements using a range of options. Modular construction allows cost-effective production of the elements, high availability and short delivery times, says Roemheld.
Permanent lubrication gives the clamps virtually maintenance-free operation. Due to their robust design, they are able to withstand high temperatures and soiling, and offer long service life. On request, multi-layer coatings can be applied to the bolts and housings to reduce wear in challenging applications.
For further information www.roemheld.co.uk

At last month’s Southern Manufacturinig exhibition in Farnborough, UK, Schunk handed a UK exhibition debut to its Kontec KSC-F single-acting
vice, as well as the KSC 6-jaw gripper vice.

The modular configuration of the KSC-F is credit to the Vero-S interface and 160° quick-clamping system. This all-rounder for raw and finished part machining is suitable for manual and automated machine loading. The KSC-F with its flat, lightweight design is seen as applicable for use in pallet storage units. Each size – KSC-F 80, KSC-F 125, and KSC-F 160 – is designed for the common machine tool pallet sizes of 320 x 320, 400 x 400 and 500 x 500 mm. The KSC-F achieves high clamping forces even at a comparably low torque level, says Schunk.
Alongside the KSC-F was the KSC six-jaw gripper vice. This six-jaw gripper vice system performs well when processing high-strength materials, says Schunk, and the safe clamping configuration can resist extreme lateral forces when machining difficult-to-process materials.
With clamping forces up to 90 kN, the KSC is designed to deliver stability in operations that require a low clamping depth, providing the end user with good access to the workpiece with improved clearance between the component and the clamping system. The vices are suitable for clamping workpieces up to 125 mm wide.
For further information www.schunk.com

Now added to the portfolio of Leader Chuck Systems is the Piranha Clamp range of centring vices. The Swiss-manufactured vices replace the usual dovetail guides found on many vices with parallel, twin cylindrical jaw guides that are said to offer better precision and clamping force.

Designed to act much like a hydraulic press, the hardened and coated spindle guides provide an increased surface area for load distribution, while the drive spindle has been tested to withstand pressures above 1300 Nm². This capability supports high-pressure workpiece clamping with a minimal depth of just 3 mm, so material waste is kept to a minimum.
The nature of the twin-guide design results in an open construction for easy chip evacuation, with any swarf flushed away by the coolant. Another benefit of this concept is an extremely low overall height, so that operators can make the most of the available working envelope.
A built-in zero-point clamping system on the base of the Piranha Clamp provides the interface with the machine tool’s work table and achieves a repeatable loading accuracy of 0.01 mm. However, the quick-change location system can be specified to fit any zero-point design, with adapter plates making the vices totally interchangeable.
Two base sizes are available, the Piranha Clamp 170 is 170 mm long by 90 mm wide, while the larger Piranha Clamp 300 is 300 mm long by 120 mm wide.
Tested against established vices that use pre-stamped raw material, the deflection measured in the Piranha Clamp range is just one-tenth of that measured (at the same clamping pressure) in competitor vices, says Leader. This makes the vice more accurate for first operations and more repeatable for second operation work.
For further information www.leaderchuck.com