New hydraulic chucks for precision applications

Kyocera Unimerco is introducing two new hydraulic chucks: the Hydro Chuck Uni and Hydro Chuck HD. The chucks are for precision drilling, milling, threading and other machining operations.

Hydraulic chucks use a hydraulic mechanism to clamp tools. Pressurised oil ensures the tool is held firmly in place while simultaneously minimising disruptive vibration, enabling stable and precise operation.

According to Kyocera Unimerco, the new Hydro Chuck Uni offers an excellent price-performance ratio, providing high precision across a wide range of machining tasks. It is a versatile chuck that ensures high machining quality and long tool life, reports the company.

Capable of withstanding high torque, the Hydro Chuck HD (Heavy Duty) is specifically engineered for high-performance cutting applications. Compared with standard solutions, the Hydro Chuck HD offers up to three times longer tool life, improving efficiency and productivity in demanding environments.

Both chucks are suitable for tools with various shank types and diameters ranging from 6 to 32 mm, without the need for special sleeves or adapters. They also enable tool changes in just a few seconds using a standard Allen key, eliminating the need for special tools like torque wrenches. During operation, the hydraulic mechanism provides vibration damping for a runout accuracy of less than 0.003 mm. A special screw allows for easy axial length adjustment.

The two chucks offer a balance grade of G2.5 at 25,000 rpm/Umax < 1 gmm, while the tool shanks meet h6 quality standards.

More information www.kyocera-unimerco.com

ITC simplifies advanced micro-machining

Now available in the UK from Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) is the new Big Kaiser HSK-EZ15 Mega micro chuck. This latest Mega micro chuck collet version is specifically for applications involving smaller workpieces, such as watch components and other micro-parts.

Big Kaiser designed the HSK-EZ15 Mega micro chuck according to the HSK-EZ15 norm, a new interface used by the latest machine tools that replaces the previous ATC-E15 norm. The company says its HSK-EZ15 is compact and precise, enabling the miniaturisation of machine spindles. It also meets the micro-technology market’s precision, performance and reliability demands.

The new collet is available in three variations with 10, 12, and 14 mm outer diameters. Each is suited to high-speed machining with shaft diameters from 0.45 to 6.05 mm, maintaining a run-out accuracy of under 3 µm at 4xD. These collet holders can operate at speeds up to 80,000 rpm.

Big Kaiser’s Mega micro chuck provides high positional accuracy and repeatability. It features a slim body and nut, while its rigidity supports high-speed machining and reduced interference. The HSK-EZ15 has a notch-free nut for high-speed applications that prevents vibration and, in turn, offers superior balance and concentricity. Big Kaiser’s nut design also eliminates whistling noise and coolant splattering.

Giampaolo Roccatello, chief sales and marketing officer for Europe at Big Kaiser, says: “The HSK-EZ15 is an innovative way of integrating functions into small spindles that were previously only possible with much larger spindles, such as presetting outside the machine to save time and increase productivity. Big Kaiser was the first company to believe in this project and to develop an industrial tool holder that would allow these machines to be sold in series.”

More information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

New tool holders bring HPC to round inserts

Jetstream Tooling Integrated (JETI) toolholders from Seco Tools bring the benefits of high-pressure coolant (HPC) to round, positive turning inserts for profiling and pocketing in difficult-to-cut materials. JETI toolholders eliminate hoses and spare parts associated with HPC, while 3D-printed coolant clamps provide internal coolant channels for cutting zone cooling and chip control. The precision delivery of HPC by the tool holder’s internal coolant channels allows increased cutting speeds and feeds for shorter part cycle times.
 
“JETI toolholders permits shops to step up their pocket machining operations,” says Seco product manager Frederik Samuelsson. “Combining the benefits of HPC, round turning inserts and favourable dynamic turning methods ensures manufacturers can attain optimal cutting speeds and feed rates while achieving higher metal removal rates for increased productivity. This combination of technologies also optimises chip control and evacuation to improve tool life, while increasing turning process reliability and reducing tooling costs per part.”

JETI toolholders use a single-screw design on the coolant clamp for fast insert indexing and changes. An easy plug-and-play solution, without hoses, integrates effortlessly to avoid long set-up times and maximise machine utilisation. Jetstream Tooling is available for 72 holders for maximum application coverage. Square shank sizes are available in metric 2020, 2525 and 3232, and imperial 12, 16 and 20, with Seco-Capto sizes C3, C4, C5, C6 and C8.

In addition to simplifying set-up times for faster job changeovers, JETI toolholders with a Seco-Capto connection come with a pre-drilled hole to install a Balluff chip. With this feature, shops can incorporate the tool holders into an RFID system to manage data gathering and transfer without manual entry.

More information www.secotools.com

Hainbuch mandrel wins exhibition award

At the AMB 2024 exhibition in Germany toward the end of last year, Hainbuch won the exhibition’s award in the precision tools category for its Maxxos T212 mandrel. The expert jury presented the mandrel with the trophy from six nominated products.

Increasing process stability is crucial for optimising production. Hainbuch offers an innovative solution with its new Maxxos T212 mandrel. Thanks to the hexagonal pyramid shape, the company says its Maxxos mandrel delivers maximum accuracy and feed rates.

The hexagonal mandrel achieves a significantly higher holding power than the round Mando mandrel, while also enabling up to double the torque transmission and corresponding cutting rates. Hainbuch offers the Maxxos T212 mandrel in 12 sizes for diameters from 8 to 200 mm.

Maxxos T212 mandrels have no draw bolt. They are therefore suitable for workpieces with blind holes and very short clamping lengths without any loss of clamping length. The pull-back effect means they will deliver benefits during the five-sided machining of workpieces on both turning and milling centres.

Thanks to the hexagonal pyramid shape, the segmented clamping bushing with the hexagon socket sits on the clamping pyramid with an absolute positive fit in every clamping position. The resulting vibration damping has a noticeably positive effect on tool life and therefore contributes to sustainability in production. In addition, compared with the previous solution, the bayonet quick-change lock saves time when switching segment clamping bushings during the set-up of different diameters.

More information www.hainbuch.com

Bespoke Ceratizit fixture benefits subcontractor

Woodbrook Precision, located in Ashton-Under-Lyne, says that Ceratizit has been instrumental in enhancing the productivity of new machine tools.

A recent case in point involved a repeat order for 100-off stainless steel products for an aerospace industry customer. With the job running frequently, Woodbrook set up six vices in a line on the 3.5 m bed of a Mazak five-axis VTC800/30SR. Upon completing each surface and cycle, an operator would reset the job to process the next face. With a total of four operations, the process was laborious. The company engaged with Ceratizit, which made a bespoke work-holding solution at its technical centre and headquarters in Sheffield.

Visiting the Ceratizit stand at the MACH 2024 exhibition in Birmingham, Woodbrook managing director Stephen Hogg realised that the only cost for Ceratizit’s bespoke service was the price of the aluminium tombstone billet and the cost of the four ZSG4-125 Centric vices that connect to the zero-point single riser tombstone system.

Immediately impressed, Woodbrook Precision ordered a pyramid system to clamp smaller parts in its Mazak CV5-500. The ZSG4-125 Centric vices with serrated jaws enabled Woodbrook to clamp on as little as 3 mm of stock, permitting the subcontractor to hit all five sides of the stainless parts with confidence in the high-torque clamping forces of the vice. With five faces machined in a single operation, the following operation was to turn the parts over to complete the sixth surface. This reduced this 100-off repeat job from four operations to just two.

“The job took over one hour per part from start to finish,” explains Hogg. “The tombstone and Centric ZSG vices immediately took more than 10 minutes off each part, with peripheral benefits such as longer running times without operator intervention.”

More information www.ceratizit.com