Solution provider

Shown for the first time will be new range of Italian made products that incorporate permanent electromagnets designed for workholding on machine tools and for handling sheet, bar and other ferrous materials in warehouses and factories. It follows 1st MTA’s appointment last year as UK and Irish agent for the equipment manufacturer, Tecnomagnete spa.

Items in the product range likely to be of particular interest include the MillTec Grip magnetic clamping system for milling machines and machining centres, the TFP and TPF magnetic clamping systems for grinding applications and the patented MaxX range of manually controlled lifters, which contain high energy magnets capable of lifting loads up to two tonnes.

The US workholding system manufacturer, Chick, represented in the UK by 1st MTA, offers a number of versatile solutions for clamping products quickly on machining centres. For example, an Indexing Sub System (ISS) will be demonstrated to show how it is able to present more components to a spindle by adding a fourth axis, a configuration that has the potential to increase a manufacturer’s profitability significantly.

Another Chick product on show, which is a direct replacement for the old fashioned wind-up vice, is the One-Lok clamping system, as will be explained on the stand. Unlike a traditional vice, which requires up to 70 complete revolutions of the operating handle to be fully opened or closed, One-Lok features a ‘QwikSlide’ mechanism that allows the moveable jaw to be easily unlocked and slid forwards or backwards to within a few turns of full closure, greatly speeding workpiece set-ups.

On show from Kitagawa will be a representative selection of the Japanese manufacturer’s rotary tables. A new model on the stand will be will be the Kitagawa TT150 tilting type rotary table with 150mm faceplate and MAC mini controller for providing fourth and fifth NC axes on a machining centre.

High clamping torques, extreme rigidity and fast operation are key features of Kitagawa’s heavy-duty GT series. Available in three models with tables from 200 to 320mm diameter, the units incorporate a novel piston design that delivers component clamping torques of up to 2,800Nm.

At just 99mm deep, the body of the Kitagawa CK160 NC rotary table has a very small footprint. The ultra-compact fourth axis is suited to mounting on the table of a BT30 taper machining centre and provides manufacturers with a larger working envelope on any size of machine. In addition, an extended range of collet chucks from Kitagawa will be exhibited, including standard short and long chucks and quick change variants along with an extensive selection from the company’s standard chuck range.

Kitagawa steady rests will be in evidence for shaft machining on lathes and grinding machines. Different versions encompass fixed or travelling positioning, vertical loading, crankshaft turning, models with an actuating cylinder, compact designs for restricted work areas and heavy-duty models for components weighing up to 40 tonnes.

For bar feeding applications, the Italian-built Iemca range of shopfloor automation equipment will be represented on the stand by two automatic bar magazines for lathes. The Kid 80 features excellent versatility as it is suitable for fixed and sliding headstock single spindle turning machines, either CNC or cam type. It can accommodate bar diameters from 5 to 80mm and lengths up to 1,615mm and can also handle bar pieces by inserting them into the spindle.

The Boss 21 bar magazine for use with both sliding head and fixed head lathes will also make an appearance. It is a compact model for feeding bar from 5 to 51mm in diameter and with a maximum length of just over 2m making it a good choice if a long bar feeder is required but space is restricted. The Iemca Master 80 UP HyperFlexible bar magazine for feeding stock from 15 to 80mm diameter will also be promoted.

1^st MTA also exclusively represents US-based drill sharpening equipment manufacturer Darex in the UK. The company has introduced a new, automatic, 4-axis CNC machine that is a faster and more accurate than its predecessor. A collet chuck version of the benchtop machine will be demonstrated for the first time at MACH.

Designated XPS-16+, 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.

1st MTA www.1mta.com
Hall 5, Stand 5120