Precise pallet vice reduces set-up time

Custom made 6in pallet vice Insures +/-0.0005in (0.002mm) accuracy, maintains repeatable high precision clamping, reduces set-up time by 30 minutes and increases productivity.

Demanding machining requirements often necessitates workholding that goes beyond standard product offerings.

A specially designed pallet vise (vice) designed by Kurt Manufacturing Company is a case in point.

Standard vises mounted on pallets are an everyday answer to many machining setups.

But in some demanding applications, bulk and weight become a problem and these standard pallet vise setups are not a viable workholding option.

To solve spindle clearance limitations, maintain repeatable high precision clamping and make setups faster, Kurt designed a 6in pallet vise that goes beyond standard product offering capabilities.

* New view of the workholding process leads to hybrid pallet vise design - "Longtime users of standard Kurt vises sometime ask us for a more robust workholding alternative," reports Michael Granlund, Kurt custom sales engineer.

"Our 6in pallet vise design takes the best of our standard vise and pallet designs and are combined into a streamlined, hybrid version that has the rigidity and precision of ductile iron in a low profile with an air actuated mounting mechanism that fastens quickly to a machine table.

* Rigidity of workholding critical for repeatable precision - relying on ductile iron for its workholding, Kurt's designers are very creative in utilising this rugged material to achieve rigidity and precision with designs that are compact and versatile to allow for fast changeovers.

Kurt's team started the design process using standard vise components from different model Kurt vises to meet the dimensional and clamping specification requirements for two popular machining centers, the Makino model V33 and the Matsura Model FS 550V.

"Using standard Kurt vise components, Kurt's design team configured the clamping mechanism consisting of Kurt D688 vise stationary jaw, movable jaw and nut," reported Granlund.

"A Kurt D688 shortened screw with internal hex nut was incorporated into the clamping mechanism".

"These clamping components included the Anglock@ clamping design originated by Kurt which helps position the parts in the vise jaws".

"It does this as clamping force is applied - the part is pushed down and onto the vise base, which also aligns it accurately.

The configuration of these clamping components then set the internal template for the pallet into which the components are assembled.

All clamping components 'nest' precisely within the pallet.

The pallet is made of 80,000 lbf/in2 ductile iron and has strength and rigidity to hold all parts, large and small, while absorbing and damping machining vibration.

The pallet is precision machined on all surfaces and acts both as the receiver for the clamping components and the exterior body adding strength and rigidity to the overall system.

* Air actuated clamping mechanism sets up pallet vise on machine table quickly - to facilitate fast setup on the machine table and removal later, Granlund said the Kurt workholding design team integrated a standard Zero Point clamping kit into the base of the pallet vise system".

""The kit consists of locating posts, springs and air actuated connecting mechanism which positions and locks the completed system on the machine worktable," Granlund reported".

""It is a quick connect clampdown device operating on shop air with 0.002mm positioning accuracy".

"The positive air pressure contained in the connecting mechanism resists contamination of chips and coolant and facilitates fast set-ups.

* Kurt hybrid design combines standard and custom workholding features that meet interchangeability, precision and productivity targets.

When investigating the potential for custom pallet vises, users often want more than one, according to Granlund, as was the case for two of these six inch pallet vises for use on the Makino V33 and Matsura FS 550V machines".

" "The intention is that the workholding is designed and replicated for interchangeable use on different machining centers because it facilitates planning, programming and setting up machining processes," said Granlund".

""Different machining centers with different machining envelopes can be accommodated for height limitations and spindle clearance".

"Both pallet vises have compatible mounting and operation with either machine.

The height saving of this Kurt custom pallet vise design provides over 2in of additional spindle clearance for machining deep pockets and other recessed features difficult to reach with standard pallet vise setups.

This new custom pallet height measures 2.665in and the overall vise in the pallet measures just 4.735in (slightly more than a standard D675 vise overall height).

Maximum jaw opening using standard hardened steel jaws is 6in with 14.20in overall depth and 6.00in vise width.

Outside dimensions for the integrated system is 12.598in wide x 14.00in deep.

Granlund points out a convenience feature - the addition of handles bolted to each side of the pallet.

Mounted permanently, the handles allow for easier movement of these custom pallet vises on and off the machine tables to any conventional lift rolled to and from the machining center as part runs require.

No overhead hoists therefore are needed to position either workholding setup.

Actuated manually, these Kurt pallet vises produce clamping force of 7,450 lbf at 55 ft.

lb.

Using 0.5mm cutters at between 20,000 and 25,000 rev/min for precision milling operations, Granlund reported users achieved repeatable +/-0.0005 accuracy on typical part runs with very nice appearing finishes and no scrap parts.

Machined part features using these custom pallet vises range from simple to complex with continuous in-the-cut machine time of over 20h.

In addition to the repeatable precision these vises ensure, users reported reducing setup time by as much as a half hour.

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