FEATURE ON WORKHOLDING

How tool management can save money and time

The TP32 Tool Management, Tool ID (TiD) and Tool Tracking System (TTS) were developed by Nikken to meet the evolving demands of smart manufacturing and using connectivity between systems to improve information exchange and streamline processes. According to the company, these systems provide system integration, leading to improved visibility and efficiency that empower manufacturers to maximise uptime, reduce waste and centralise critical data.

Built as a comprehensive, fully integrated tool management solution, TP32 brings visibility and data exchange to the shop floor. Designed for connectivity with CAM systems, CNC machines, ERP software, vending systems and more, TP32 manages every tool and resource within a production environment, ensuring nothing is misplaced or overstocked, and all usage and costs are visible.

For manufacturers seeking a reliable entry point into digital tool data management, Nikken says TiD is ideal as a cost-effective, plug-and-play system for managing tool identification and data transfer.

TiD utilises handheld scanners to read a data matrix tag (similar to a QR code) directly from the tool at the presetter and machine. This unique identifier allows specific tool measurement data to be located and loaded directly into a machine’s NC, bypassing the need for embedded RFID chips or costly hardware modifications.

TiD is suitable for manufacturers looking to digitise their tool data without overhauling existing infrastructure. Nikken saysit offers a smart bridge between the physical and digital tool environment, while removing the change of erroneous tool measurements ending up in the machines tool table.

As the manufacturing landscape evolves toward full digitisation, Nikken reports that its TP32 and TiD software platforms provide the critical infrastructure needed for high-efficiency operations.

More information www.nikken-world.co.uk

An important step into an exciting future

At the recent EMO 2025 exhibition in Hanover, Schunk showcased battery-powered electromechanical clamping devices with IO-Link connectivity for the first time – a technology with wireless data transmission between clamping device and machine control. Schunk says this innovation represents an important step to further automation of the clamping process and the implementation of Industry 4.0 principles. Companies benefit from a media-independent clamping position, expanded options for data transmission and increased productivity.

EMO visitors seeking electrically actuated quick-change pallet modules with fully integrated electronics and actuators needed to look no further than the Schunk stand.Thanks to a multitude of interrogation and transmission options, the Vero-S NSE3-PH 138 IOL offers greater transparency during the clamping process, without further interfering contours.

With the new battery-powered clamping device, Schunk says it offers a pioneering solution for companies that want to capture process-relevant statuses in real time and transmit them efficiently to the machine control. The technology is particularly attractive for industries looking to move away from cost-intensive pneumatic and hydraulic solutions – whether to reduce operating costs or to avoid contamination, which is undesirable in cleanrooms or the food industry.

In this new development, Schunk relies on IO-Link for wireless communication between the clamping device and the machine control. For the first time at EMO 2025, battery-powered Tandem clamping force blocks of the KSE3 series – as well as Vero-S quick-change pallet modules – were presented that utilise this technology. The actuation and transmission of the permanently recorded statuses of the clamping devices are carried out via IO-Link Wireless and an IO-Link Master, which then transfer this information to the machine control.

Despite the switch to battery operation, users do not have to compromise on clamping force or pull-down force. On the contrary: the new clamping devices deliver the same performance as pneumatic or hydraulic systems.

More information www.schunk.com

Free-of-chargework-holding seminars available

According to 1st Machine Tool Accessories, workholding may not always be the most glamorous part of machining, but it is one of the most important. For engineers, a strong understanding of work-holding principles is essential asit directly influences product quality, efficiency, safety and overall manufacturing costs.

At its core, workholding ensures that a workpiece is positioned securely and accurately during machining. This stability not only guarantees precision but also enables engineers to optimise operations, reduce waste and design parts that are manufacturable at scale.

Several key reasons exist whyevery engineer should understand workholding.Optimised workholding set-ups not only prevent workpiece movement, ensuring finished parts meet exact tolerances, they can also minimise defects, rework and wasted material, directly reducing manufacturing expenses.

Of course, production efficiency also sees an increase, where quick changeovers and standardised set-ups keep machines producing for longer. Here, the ability to select the optimal device – jig, fixture, vice or chuck – for specific part geometries and production volumes, is paramount. By understanding workholding, engineers can design parts that are easier to hold and machine, even when complex.

Safety is another critical factor. Properly held workpieces prevent dangerous accidents resulting from components that shift from the held position.

1st MTA believes knowledge of workholding is essential to developing skilled, confident engineers. That is why the company is offering free-of-charge work-holding seminars to educational establishments and training centres.These sessions cover best practice, principles and hands-on demonstrations of the latest equipment, helping to bridge the gap between theory and real-world application.

More information www.1mta.com

Metrology specialist brings machining in-house

High-quality fixturing of components under test is a crucial prerequisite to ensuring Sempre Group customers achieve traceable, reproducible and repeatable measurements on the shop floor. To meet the increasing demand for these fixtures from its user base, the metrology specialist made a strategic investment in a Hurco VM10i vertical machining centre, a move that would allow it to design, manufacture, build and test them internally, rather than outsourcing.

Mike John, head of technical delivery at Sempre, says: “The decision was driven by a desire to ensure faster component production and greater flexibility, subsequently addressing the challenges our customers face more effectively. After evaluating several machine tool providers, the Hurco VM10i emerged as the ideal production platform, due partly to the suitability of its working volume, which accommodates 90% of the fixturing components we make. The VMC’s speeds and feeds are appropriate for the materials we primarily machine, namely aluminium, stainless steel and engineering plastics, added to which the price of the machine was competitive.”

The integration of the VMC at Sempre’s Gloucester facility has already yielded tangible benefits. Response times have improved and the quality of manufactured components has increased now that production is handled in-house. The ability to prototype and develop new fixturing solutions rapidly enables faster iteration and testing of complex assemblies, shortening delivery timescales and often enabling the completion of projects ahead of schedule.

Looking ahead, having the Hurco VM10i positions Sempre to support its customers more quickly and efficiently with turnkey solutions, including smart fixtures and other products.

More information www.hurco.co.uk

High-volume machining of aircraft brake clips

Aerospace is Westley Engineering’s largest market, accounting for 45% of total production by value. A notable aerospace contract involves the manufacture of rotor clips used in aircraft disc brakes. Made from aerospace-grade steel and Inconel, the components see application in both civil and military aerospace programmes.

Three years ago, Westley Engineering improved the accuracy of the manufacturing process by switching from piercing holes in the clip using press tools to drilling them on a 40-taper vertical machining centre. Although it improved precision, the new approach also increased cycle times substantially and made the process more labour intensive. So in late 2023, the company installed a Brother Speedio S700Xd1 4-axis, 30-taper machining centre, followed by a second in April 2025. Supplied by Whitehouse Machine Tools, the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for the Japanese manufacturer, these high-speed machines have now replaced the VMC for clip production.

In partnership with Whitehouse Machine Tools, Westley Engineering implemented an automated, single-operation process on each Speedio. The new production route features custom-built fixtures with nine inclined bars, each capable of holding 36 clips. This high-density arrangement enables over 300 parts to be machined per cycle, significantly more than the flat fixtures used previously.

Cycle times have been reduced to between two and three minutes per clip, depending on the variant. For example, the Inconel version requires additional milling on the outer arms, whereas the steel variants do not. Typical batch size ranges from 5,000 to 10,000 units.

Before deployment, the process was validated at Whitehouse Machine Tools’ Kenilworth technical centre.

More information www.wmtcnc.com