INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Compare tools at Seco portal

New functionality added to the Seco website allows customers to compare inserts instantly, enabling them to discover and order Seco replacements that are equal to or better than their existing tools. The functionality – one of the first such tool comparison services in the industry – is an easily accessible digital service that is now available to Seco customers around the world. The system is designed to save time for customers and reduce risk by ensuring that requests are dealt with quickly and comprehensively by comparing them with an extensive database of Seco and competitor tools.

For further information www.secotools.com

Deburring EXPO to join new trade fair

Deburring EXPO will no longer take place as an independent event, but will be incorporated into a new trade fair called Parts Finishing, taking place for the first time on 12-13 November 2025. The new two-day event will combine the subjects of deburring, component cleaning and surface finishing. It will be held at the Karlsruhe exhibition centre.

Hartmut Herdin, managing director of the organiser fairXperts, says: “In future, the subject of deburring technologies will be combined with the fields of parts washing and finishing at the new two-day trade fair.” The topic of surface finishing will include the process steps of fine and ultra-fine grinding, polishing, honing, lapping, vibratory grinding, blasting and brushing.

For further information www.parts-finishing.de

Hexagon and Microsoft partner in cloud project

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division is entering a strategic partnership with Microsoft that aims to redefine how engineers collaborate. The collaboration will also enable the discrete manufacturing industry to innovate faster, with more confidence, using new solutions that combine data from virtual engineering processes with real-world measurement of manufactured products.

Modern cloud infrastructure will connect manufacturing and engineering systems in Hexagon’s Nexus digital reality platform for manufacturers, and help employees increase their productivity through cloud-accelerated simulation and AI. Hexagon and Microsoft have partnered closely on the development and scaling of the open-source Fluid Framework and Azure Fluid Relay service, allowing data created in one system to be immediately available to any other person or machine operating in another.

For further information www.hexagon.com

Simple finger change during an ongoing process

With its new BSWS-R quick-change jaw system, Schunk enables automated finger changes during an ongoing process. The system consists of just a few components and is compatible with all grippers featuring the PGN-plus-P screw connection diagram.

In many sectors, production is increasingly moving in the direction of high-mix/low-volume. This is where being able to produce a wide range of variants without any manual set-up, even with the smallest batch sizes, is becoming a great advantage for companies. The BSWS-R jaw quick-change system makes this possible with its flexible solution.

The latest evolutionary stage of the BSWS series enables robots to change their gripper fingers automatically in-process – in under three seconds. Until now, automated changes have only been possible when replacing the entire gripper. Meanwhile the BSWS-R can accomplish this task with a minimum of components.

A quick-change system base, two adapter pins and a deposit station are the only parts needed for each gripper finger. The base screws into the workpiece-specific gripper finger and the adapter pins fasten to the base jaw of the gripper. When the base moves into the deposit station, the locking pin actuates and the form-fit mechanism unlocks. The robot moves upwards out of the jaw quick-change system, while the fingers and base remain in the deposit station. No additional work is necessary as the robot performs the change independently. The new design eliminates the need to drill through the finger. Only threaded holes are required, giving users more freedom when designing fingers.

The BSWS-R is available in nine sizes. In smaller versions up to size 100, the support stations feature elastomer bearings, making them suitable for use with collaborative robots (cobots).

For further information www.schunk.com

Heimatec extends combi multiple turning holder range

Heimatec, the trusted partner of UK work-holding specialist Hyfore, has expanded its product range of combi multiple turning holders. The precision tool manufacturer now offers a selection of holders with internal coolant and wedge-clamping features in various sizes for a variety of machine brands, with the range undergoing continuous expansion to include other machine manufacturers. All are available in the UK from Hyfore.

The internal coolant allows for a continual, optimal supply of cooling lubricant that directly targets the cutting edge of the tool. It removes any chips generated by the machining process quickly and easily, avoiding problems caused by chips collecting in the machine. As with other Heimatec holders, the combi multiple turning holder is also suitable for machining operations that use an external coolant supply, or those which require a combination of internal and external lubricant.

Notably, Heimatec also refined and adapted the clamping feature on the new turning tool-holder models during the development process. The new range of combi multiple turning holders utilises an optimised wedge-style clamping approach, which replaces the selective hexagonal screws seen on previous models with clamps that grip the turning tool over its entire surface. According to Hyfore, the result is a quick and easy assembly and disassembly process when changing the turning tool.

Hexagonal screw clamping tool holders are still available to order as an accessory from Hyfore.

For further information www.hyfore.com