Precision workholding systems to be displayed

Workholding equipment supplier will be displaying innovative and precision chucking systems for use on vertical and horizontal machining centres, milling machines and grinders.

The display of workholding systems for vertical and horizontal machining centres, milling machines and grinders being staged by award-winning Leader Chuck Systems will not only illustrate the company's high-level workholding expertise, but it will also showcase how users' problems can be solved by innovative, yet cost-effective solutions.

For example, the Leader MultiChuck MMY concentric clamping system, the Best Workholding Product at the International Machine Tool Industry Awards, brings a host of advantages to the self-centring of round parts - not least rapid clamping and short set-up times.

This is courtesy of a simple top face operation that enables more chucks - and therefore workpieces - to be 'banked' closely together.

This is not the case with the traditional side face lock/unlock strategy.

Available with two or three jaws, MultiChuck MMY combines fast initial jaw travel with slower second-stage clamping for long stroke/rigid grip for machining both internal and external surfaces.

Jaw strokes are 3mm, 5mm, 8mm and 10mm across the four variants, and the low height (from 25mm to 40mm across the range) maximises the machine's Z axis (height can be increased using blocks).

Quick change top jaws can be supplied to suit most materials/components.

MultiChuck MMY is available in a range of chuck sizes - 80mm, 100mm, 125mm and 150mm - and with base dimensions of 80mm by 80mm, 100mm by 100mm, 125mm by 125mm and 150mm by 150mm.

It will fit all slotted machine tables.

Also on show will be the new MultiChuck MMYB, a derivative of MMY.

By simply adding a through-hole to MultiChuck MMY, Leader Chuck Systems' MultiChuck MMYB is designed for unobstructed on-centre through-component drilling, reaming and tapping operations.

Designed for both the internal and external gripping of workpieces, MMYB is available in similar capacities to MMY (but jaw strokes are 3mm, 3mm, 4mm and 5mm across the four variants) and has through holes of 12mm, 20mm, 25mm and 35mm diameter, to suit users' requirements.

Then there's the MultiVice MMX inline vice system, designed for small batch, large variety throughput requirements on vertical and horizontal machining centres, milling machines and grinders.

Offering unrivalled levels of power and accessibility in confined spaces, MultiVice MMX's simple, yet innovative design is the secret of its success.

Comprising a series of clamping stations for multiple part loading - for example, a 400mm by 400mm plate offers up to 12 clamping stations (with MMX 55) - MultiVice MMX achieves secure locking/unlocking simply and quickly with just a quarter turn of the key.

MultiVice MMX boasts a number of features that set it apart, but it is the quick-change angled jaw actuator wedge that is of particular advantage when the system is used on a two- or four-sided vertical tombstone.

With positive dovetail location for continuous repeatability, MMX provides parallel, self-aligning clamping, and: * Rigid clamping gives increased tool life through less vibration.

* No component lift when clamping.

* Self-aligning.

* High clamping pressure.

Supplied as standard with either moving or fixed jaws, MultiVice MMX is available in lengths of 105 mm (moving jaw) and 54mm (fixed jaw) and 55mm wide, and can be mounted directly onto a machine table or any type of sub-plate, tombstone, cube or pallet.

Leader Chuck Systems' MACH stand will also highlight the MultiVice MMCC multi-jaw vice system that can effectively double the workholding capacity of vertical and horizontal machining centres, milling machines and grinders.

Specifically designed for long-run, large batch work, MultiVice MMCC utilises any number of 'Dual Action' jaw vices to create an ultra-flexible, cost-efficient vice system capable of accommodating a high number of components at one time on the same table.

Instead of locating and gripping components against centrally-fixed jaws, MultiVice MMCC is designed for high-volume applications and, it comprises a series of in-line Dual Action vice jaws located on the sub-plate with fixed dowel pins.

Each fixed Dual Action vice jaw has an integral moving jaw with 3 mm of clamping stroke.

The number of vices that can be used - and therefore workpiece capacity - is limited only by the size of the machine table.

Using a permanently fixed jaw as the datum, each MMCC is subsequently fixed and positioned by dowel pins 'behind' the previous jaw at a distance dictated by the workpiece size.

This eliminates compound gripping force and generates a very stable and highly accurate vice system.

Standard jaw size is 62mm wide by 12mm long by 26/27mm high, though other sizes are available to optimise the component variations being handled.

The quick change jaws feature an innovative design of positive dovetail location for continuous repeatability, and they can be provided in a variety of materials.

A flush-fit between false jaw and vice body prevents the ingress of swarf and the table T slots can also be protected by utilising a novel swarf guard that also provides a positive component location stop.

As well as achieving secure locking/unlocking with just a quarter turn of the key, MultiVice MMCC provides these additional benefits: * Rigid clamping gives increased tool life through less vibration.

* No component lift when clamping.

* Maximised use of the z axis through its low height.

* High clamping pressure.

The most recent additions to the MultiVice range of vice systems are the low-cost MMCZ and MMXZ modular strips that can be utilised singly or collectively - to suit users with specific throughput requirements and budgets.

The vices boost productivity on vertical and horizontal machining centres, milling machines and grinders.

The strips offer fast and accurate workholding as well as power and accessibility in confined spaces.

The strips are 70mm wide by 500mm long by 45mm high and are available with varying numbers of clamping positions: * MMCZ 501 - one clamping position of 380mm maximum.

* MMCZ 502 - two clamping positions each of 150mm maximum.

* MMCZ 503 - three clamping positions each of 80mm maximum.

* MMCZ 504 - four clamping positions each of 40mm maximum.

* MMXZ 55/502 - two clamping positions each of 130mm maximum.

The number of strips utilised is restricted only by the size of the machine table.

Instead of locating and gripping components against centrally-fixed jaws, like the MultiVice MMCC the MultiVice MMCZ utilises Dual Action vice jaws on the modular strip, fixed with dowel pins.

Each jaw has an integral moving jaw with 3mm of clamping stroke.

A permanently fixed jaw provides the datum, and each MMCC is subsequently fixed and positioned by dowel pins 'behind' the previous jaw at a distance dictated by workpiece size.

This eliminates compound gripping force and generates a very stable and highly accurate vice system.

The quick-change jaws feature an innovative design of positive dovetail location for continuous repeatability, and are available in a variety of materials.

A flush fit between false jaw and vice body prevents the ingress of swarf.

As well as achieving secure locking/unlocking with just a quarter turn of the key, MultiVice MMCZ provides these additional benefits: * Rigid clamping gives increased tool life through less vibration.

* No component lift when clamping.

* Self-aligning.

* Maximised use of the Z axis through its low height.

Boasting similar benefits, the MultiVice MMXZ provides two clamping stations, locating and gripping components against centrally-fixed jaws.

MMXZ also features the angled jaw actuator wedge which is of particular advantage when the system is used on a two- or four-sided vertical tombstone.

With positive dovetail location for continuous repeatability, MMXZ provides parallel, self-aligning clamping.

Leader Chuck Systems' MACH 2004 display will also feature a comprehensive selection of lathe chucking solutions, including examples from its range of high-accuracy Hainbuch collet chucks that will accommodate workpieces up to 500 mm diameter and featuring the new Mando Adapt and Jaw Adapt systems - which effectively transform a standard Hainbuch Combi Pull back chuck into a mandrel and jaw chuck.

Lexon, an economical collet chuck replacement for multi-bore and other styles of collet chucks in bar-fed turning applications, will be displayed too.

In addition to highlighting examples from its portfolio of own-brand standard CNC power chucks (165mm to 315mm diameter) and self-contained compact static and rotating air chucks (80mm to 315mm) the stand will display chucks from Gamet, Hewa, MicroCentric and Zweifel, for which Leader Chuck Systems holds the exclusive UK agency rights.

MACH 2004 - April 19-23 - NEC Birmingham, UK.

Hall: 5, Stand: 5305.

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