Accudyne Products is introducing its expanded-capacity bar puller for CNC lathe automation. The new EZ-Puller Expanded Capacity supports larger round bar diameters of 0.093” to 2” (2.7 to 50.8 mm) and weights of up to 100 lbs (45.4 kg). Hex bar capacity of 0.25” to 1.375” (6.4 to 34.9 mm) and square bar capacity of 0.25” to 1” (6.4 to 25.4 mm) are pulled without the need for an M19 (spindle orientation) function.

The EZ-Puller is an auto-adjusting bar puller that enables the automatic operation of CNC lathes. Notably, the auto-adjust feature is driven by an ‘X’ value in the pulling sub-routine of a lathe program. This value represents the distance the tool needs to move in the X axis according to the bar diameter being pulled.

Accudyne’s patented design uses a cam and lifter system, where hardened steel grippers attach to hardened steel pivot arms. These arms have an integral cam lobe machined at their top. As the grippers advance over the bar stock, internal urethane springs compress. The urethane springs provide a reactive force that allows the grippers to securely hold the bar stock. This proprietary design provides optimal gripping force regardless of bar size or shape.

Other features of the EZ-Puller are that it will accommodate an infinite range of sizes within its capacity without mechanical adjustment, allowing for multiple pulls. Multiple pulls are used for longer parts that cannot be cost-effectively machined in one chucking. The design of the EZ-Puller also allows for pulling bars with minimal projection in front of the work-holding chuck. This characteristic allows the machinist to set-up with as little as two gripper serrations (0.12”/3 mm) of engagement, which makes for a more rigid set up.

For further information
www.accudyneproducts.com

The Centrotex quick change-over interface from Hainbuch is now available in a new version for smaller machine spindles. Acclaimed by the company as the market’s smallest system for setting up clamping devices in a matter of seconds, the quick-change Centrotex S has a diameter of just 224 mm and offers repeatability better than ≤0.002 mm on the interface without having to re-align.

Hainbuch’s Centrotex S is a solution for eliminating non-productive downtime, set-up times and job changeover times that often increase when access to a compact work envelope is restrictive on operator movement and access. Featuring a fast change-over system and compact design, the Centrotex S eliminates excessive set-up times and is particularly suitable for compact machine tools with a small work envelope.

The machine adaptor mount on the spindle and the clamping device is equipped with a counterpart adaptor that can exchange with another clamping device in less than a minute. Actuation of Hainbuch’s Centrotex S is via just one radial locking screw, while ergonomic operation is now better thanks to the fewer rotations required to tighten and clamp the system. In addition, the Monteq changing fixture contributes to a faster clamping device set-up.

The new Centrotex S is suitable for clamping parts up to 52 mm diameter, and for A2-5, A2-6, AP140 and AP170 spindle nose systems.

Additionally, the Centrotex S system can offer a solution in fixed position clamping set-ups on the bed of machine tools. According to Hainbuch, the precision, rigidity and clamping forces can significantly improve machining performance, surface finishes and tool life.

For further information
www.hainbuch.com

Wiltshire-based Rotron Power, a specialist designer and manufacturer of rotary engines, has purchased a Lehmann T1-510520 CNC rotary table to support its machining activities.
“As we need to efficiently machine parts with demanding levels of precision, we have invested in a range of machine tools from XYZ,” explains production manager Sam Bellefontaine.

“When the need arose to purchase a rotary table, we were happy to take advice from XYZ’s technical staff and invest in a Lehmann unit. The machining flexibility and speed that our new rotary table delivers is now proving invaluable.”

Given the complex nature of many of its parts, Rotron Power would need to perform two or three separate machining operations prior to installing the rotary table.
“Now, thanks to the ‘all-round’ machining capability delivered by our Lehmann solution we can complete the same machining work in a single hit,” says Bellefontaine. “In addition, we no longer have problems related to the accurate relocation of workpieces for secondary machining operations. These factors have helped us to maintain our high precision standards and slash the machining time of many components.”

The relatively small footprint of the Lehmann rotary table means that, when mounted inside the XYZ machine, it occupies a minimum area of its bed.

“As well as leaving room for the fitting of additional work holding on the bed, the compact size of the rotary table means that – even when it’s not required – we can leave it inside the machine while other milling and drilling work takes place,” says Bellefontaine. “Also, when we are not using it, the rotary table’s low profile helps to increase the available working volume of the machine.”

For further information
www.lehmann-rotary-tables.com

Two German firms, five-axis vertical machining centre manufacturer Wenzler (Heller group) and work-holding equipment specialist Roemheld, have developed a process that allows a casting or other component to be secured, while at the same time checking it for accuracy of form and position before machining starts. The solutions avoids adding value to defective workpieces that will later be scrapped, increasing process reliability, raising productivity and lowering manufacturing costs.

Wenzler conceived the idea as it wanted to offer customers, particularly those in the automotive industry, turnkey production centres for the reliable machining of aluminium chassis and suspension components, 24/7. The company’s technical manager Sebastian Knaus says: “We wondered how work-holding technology could contribute to making our customers’ production even more stable and efficient.”

Already familiar with Roemheld’s work-holding equipment, which he describes as “sophisticated, reliable, and sturdy”, he contacted the supplier’s key account manager Benjamin Nagel.

Development of the innovative clamping technology was based on a cast aluminium rear axle frame secured in a test fixture at Wenzler’s technical centre. The pilot phase ended in 2020 and this year it will find use assisting the series production of aluminium structural components at a German automotive supplier.

In more detail, the concept features swing clamps from Roemheld with integrated pressure sensors able to detect cost-effectively and easily the accuracy of the workpiece about to be machined. Intelligent clamping technology checks the parts for defects and contour variations, detects fixturing errors and provides information on the position of the component and the applied clamping forces during machining. Part quality is subject to continuous monitoring with seamless documentation.

For further information
www.roemheld.co.uk

A recently installed CNC rotary table from PL Lehmann is enabling a Bostomatic high-speed milling machine belonging to Billingshurst-based Thomas Keating Toolmaking, a specialist in scientific ground and satellite-based THZ instruments, to perform highly efficient five-axis machining.

“When judged against the alternatives that we considered, the Lehmann TF 507510 rotary table best met our exacting technical criteria and represented excellent value for money,” says managing director Dr Richard Wylde. “Now installed on our rebuilt Bostomatic machine, it is in daily use.

“In addition to the advantages that the rotary table provides to our tool-making activities, it proves extremely useful when we manufacture high-precision scientific instruments,” continues Wylde. “For example, we’re currently involved in the production of next-generation, satellite-based weather prediction instruments. The precision 3+2 axis capabilities provided by our Lehmann rotary table are invaluable when undertaking this challenging work.”

He adds: “Equally, when recently manufacturing thin, metal film coated dielectric mirrors for use in dynamic nuclear polarisation instruments, the rotary table enabled our complex five-axis machining tasks to be performed with ease. In addition to delivering five-axis capabilities, our new Lehmann rotary table has considerably increased our manufacturing speeds. So successful has it been that we are currently in the process of purchasing another Bostomatic that will be fitted with a second Lehmann rotary table.”

Estimates suggest that 90% of machining procedures carried out by five-axis machining centres are basic five-sided processes. Therefore, the fitting of a CNC rotary table (which costs a fraction of the price of a five-axis machining centre) to an existing three-axis VMC, represents an cost-effective way of achieving five-axis capabilities.

For further information
www.lehmann-rotary-tables.com