Aerospace clamping advances

The aerospace sector is one of the most technically demanding industries with increasingly difficult to machine materials, exacting specifications and time restraints. Added to this, the industry is growing at a rate that demands maximum machine uptime.

This is where Hainbuch enters the equation with its innovative workholding solutions and quick-changeover configurations. The company has now published an aerospace brochure that highlights just some of the creative developments that have won many awards with more than 100 patents.

Hainbuch has emphasised examples of how interior equipment, frame structures and airfoils, power plant and turbines and also undercarriages can all be precisely and safely clamped with solutions from the German technology innovator.

The new brochure highlights how complex components such as hydraulic valve housings can be internally clamped with Hainbuch’s double independent ID clamping system. Using a mandrel with two independent hydraulic positions and a pull-back effect, the double ID solution incorporates vulcanised segmented bushing to dampen vibration whilst a rigid clamping configuration and optimised chuck body improve cutting tool access and machining performance.

For the internal clamping of aerospace parts such as shaft fans that require external milling operations, Hainbuch has introduced its segmented bushing chuck. Conducting ID clamping with a dead-length effect for definite radial clamping, the segmented bush chuck can be mounted on a workpiece carrier for simplified production handling. With full cylindrical surface contact and a large opening stroke between this large workpiece and the segmented bushing; secure and precise clamping is guaranteed.

The external clamping product lines from Hainbuch are also impressive with the segmented mandrel T213 proving the optimal solution for clamping components such as aerospace turbine gear wheels. The manual hydraulic mandrel has a vulcanised bush and optimised design that maximises the pull-back effect for superior clamping rigidity and precision. Automated loading is made possible by the large clamp and load strokes whilst its quick changeover interface facilitates changing the clamping device in as little as two minutes.

For the external clamping of complex parts such as aerospace bearing journals that require turning operations on the outside features, the company’s TOPlus pull-back chuck is ideal. The TOPlus technology provides full surface contact between the hexagonal clamping head and the chuck body. It also features an inner workpiece end-stop with coolant flush and a chip evacuation channel that ensures prolonged machining.

Hainbuch UK www.hainbuch.com