The designer and manufacturer of automated pallet changers and Midaco have developed the pallet-based trunnion system giving a removable fourth axis capability to VMCs or horizontal machining centres.
The unit is ideal for subcontract or low volume manufacturing environments where easy and rapid access to a fourth axis for three-sided machining of the workpiece is necessary but not permanent. To facilitate ‘all around’ machining the trunnion rotates through 360º. A ‘parked’ fourth axis can impair access to the total machining envelope whereas with the Midaco unit, it is completely removed, along with its docking unit.
The new trunnion system is supplied complete with a permanently wired universal fourth axis receiver which automatically engages with the chosen fourth axis unit (not supplied).
Rob Beckett, workholding product manager for Hyfore Workholding comments: “Innovative components such as this can really help productivity as the operator can effectively be working on two jobs at a time. Different workpieces are being machined while the set-up for the next – possibly different – batch can be undertaken safely out of the machine. Therefore, the transition between machining two different jobs is virtually seamless.”
In addition to the trunnion system, Midaco will be featuring one of its M3016FL manual pallet changers on the stand.
Midaco products are available exclusively in the UK from Hyfore Workholding which can undertake all of the engineering and installation either as a retrofit onto existing machines or as part of a new turnkey installation.
Hyfore Workholding experts have first-hand experience of a wide range of clamping, fixturing and automation techniques and can be contacted to discuss specific requirements or undertake demonstrations.
Hyfore Workholding/Midaco www.hyfore.com Hall 27, Stand F09
