On the 1st Machine Tool Accessories (1st MTA) stand, the company will be promoting a range of products designed to enhance productivity through ease of use.
From the US workholding specialist, Chick, represented in the UK exclusively by 1st MTA, there will be a number of versatile solutions for clamping products quickly on a machining centre. For example, an Indexer SubSystem (ISS) will be demonstrated to show how more components can be presented to a spindle by adding a fourth axis, a configuration that has the potential to increase a manufacturer’s profitability significantly.
The system on a vertical machining centre typically comprises four Chick Qwik-Lok twin-station workholding units mounted on the faces of a Multi-Lok square section column held horizontally between a rotary indexing table and a tailstock clamped to the machine table. On a horizontal-spindle, 4-axis centre, the Multi-Lok is clamped to the rotary table.
In this way, a minimum of eight components can be milled and drilled in a single CNC program, while if machined soft jaws are used, many more can be offered to the spindle, resulting in fewer tool changes per component and even more efficient production.
Another Chick product on show will be the latest lightweight versions of its One-Lok clamping system, which is a superior alternative to the conventional, wind-up vice.
Available in two sizes, 400mm or 500mm long, they offer maximum gripping lengths of 180mm and 280mm respectively. Improvements include a lowering of the clamp profile from 150mm to 134mm, which allows longer spindle travel in the Z-axis and also approximately halves the unit's weight for easier handling. To this end, an ergonomic handgrip has also been added at either end.
The moveable jaw can be adjusted quickly and conveniently, as it can now be slid over the QwikSlide ratchets using one hand rather than two. A few turns of the handle move the jaw in the same direction over the last few millimetres to complete the clamping action rapidly.
Paul Swann, owner and president of Chick says that payback on the cost of a One-Lok in an average job shop, based on increased output from expensive machine tools, is typically three months.
To underline its expertise in the workholding sector, 1st MTA will also present permanent-electromagnetic clamping systems and materials handling products from Italian company, Tecnomagnete. The electrical supply is connected for only a few seconds to activate and then deactivate clamping of the workpiece, which during machining is gripped by the power of the high-energy permanent magnets.
There will be a focus on the company's range of compact, low profile MillTEC Grip magnetic workholding systems for 5-axis and five-sided metalcutting applications. The low-profile, frameless elements have a double magnetic circuit that allows uniform clamping between the workpiece and the magnetic surface and at the same time between the magnetic system and the machine table.
A patented feature is the sealed construction with a monolithic, uniform, all-metal top section into which an array of magnets is embedded for holding down workpieces. There are no inserts, sealing resin or any filling compound, so the electric circuitry and magnets inside are protected from contaminants, leading to long, trouble-free life.
MillTEC eliminates bending and deformation that can be caused by mechanical clamping, ensuring stability and structural uniformity of the whole assembly. It leaves five sides of a component freely accessible for milling and drilling and the light weight of the clamping system means that heavier components can be processed for a given maximum table load.
Lastly, Darex, drill sharpening equipment will be making an appearance at the NEC. The US manufacturer, represented in the UK solely by 1st MTA, will demonstrate a benchtop XPS-16+ 4-axis CNC machine with a collet chuck.
Faster and more accurate than its predecessor, it can process two-fluted high-speed-steel, cobalt, carbide and coated bits from 3 to 16mm in diameter and can create any point angle from 90° to 150° as standard. The unit also sharpens split point geometries and complex, four-facet point drills and can automatically hone carbide drills for high cutting precision. The CNC system allows the user to customise point styles and save the program for future use.
Further improvements over the previous model include an increased number of stored drill files; users can save up to 100 geometries. The upgraded machine also allows the user to choose between no-split, X-split, R-split and the new split-only option.
The start of the grind position has been incremented, resulting in more efficient use of the abrasive for longer wheel life. In addition, greater resolution has been added to the motors for improved surface finish.
1st Machine Tool Accessories www.1mta.com Stand: H20-560 www.bit.ly/MACH2018
