Product category:
Workholding - miscellaneous clamping systems, components
News Release from: Nikken Kosakusho UK | Subject: Face and taper 3-Lock Tooling systems
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 23 November 2006
Workholding tooling betters taper/flange
contact
Face and taper tooling systems have an internal expanding pressure design that enables perfect and balanced taper and flange contact to be maintained even when high-speed machining.
IPE, part of the IPECO Group of companies - is a high-precision manufacturing company serving the aerospace, defence and electronic sectors Located in Southend-on-Sea, UK - the company's core business is in the design and, manufacture of high-performance flight deck and specialist crew seating (pilot, co-pilot, flight attendant, etc), which it supplies to the global aircraft industry
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 10 Aug 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Rotary table package ups MC output
Nikken Kosakusho UK were approached by 'IPE', a leading Aerospace manufacturer which was looking to ramp up production using an existing Matsuura RA1, twin pallet, machining centre.
Increase productivity from existing machines
If UK manufacturing companies are keen to increase productivity and output, they must move away from age-old methods and processes in work- and tool- holding when using metal cutting machine tools.
The company is also a specialist subcontractor to the defence (electronics) sector - manufacturing high-precision machined components, fabricated sheet metal assemblies and complex salt bath brazed products (wave guides, electronic enclosures and structural parts) for a number of blue-chip OEMs that include - BAE Systems, GEC Marconi etc In the company's flight deck seating product portfolio there are over 50 different models - ranging from simple compact designs for the utility aircraft market through to seating applications for regional airlines, military transports, executive and long haul aircraft.
The company has supplied all flight deck seating requirements for Boeing commercial aircraft since 1985 - and, in a deal concluded in April 2005, is now supplying seating for Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner.
IPE provides its customers with a total systems solution.
Further reading
Nikken takes on UK distribution of Elbo Controlli
Nikken Kosakusho UK is the sole UK distributor for the Elbo Controlli range of presetting machines, high precision tool presetting equipment that were previously supported by Stellram UK.
Tool presetter also performs inspection
Dual function camera system provides tool presetting and tool inspection on a tool presetter fitted with vacuum clamping with index lock on an interchangeable spindle.
Frontline distribution catalogue imminent
From 1 November 2004 Nikken Kosakusho UK will be launching the new Frontline Distribution Catalogue.
As well as sophisticated design, manufacturing and inspection capabilities - the company has its own in-house upholstery operation and extensive testing/crash testing facilities - investments that enable IPE to better manage and control its supply chain.
* IPE products and services are in high demand - the growth in the world's aerospace sector, which includes phenomenal growth in the global private/corporate jet market (post 9/11) - has seen the company embark on - and complete - a number of substantial re-investment programmes all designed to increase productivity, improve quality, control costs - and maintain competitive advantage.
* Tooling solutions - recently such reinvestment programmes have included the installation of three Matsuura High-speed 'H Plus 300' horizontal machining centres - each equipped with 15kW, 15,000 rev/min spindles, integrated 11-station work piece pallet changers and 120-240-position automatic tool changing system.
The Matsuura's operate as a dedicated Flexible Manufacturing Cell.
The machines operate 24/7 and are used to manufacture precision components - mainly made from aluminium - in small-to-medium batch quantities and always to tight tolerances (up to 10 micron accuracy in many instances).
To achieve these part accuracies and repeatabilities - day in.
day out - IPE has invested in high-performance tooling solutions from Nikken.
The face and taper 3-Lock Tooling systems supplied by Nikken have a unique internal expanding pressure design that enables perfect and balanced taper and flange contact to be maintained even when high-speed machining and during machining operations where thermal expansion could result in accuracy problems .
Nikken's 3-Lock tooling systems optimize cutting performance.
The system is inherently rigid and displays excellent dampening characteristics which not only improves accuracy and finish - but also increases tool life too.
Nikken's 3-Lock face and taper tooling is used to provide the necessary rigidity for achieving very close tolerances.
Rigidity and hence surface finish are improved (and assured) due to the increased diameter contact where the tool meets the spindle.
Furthermore face contact also has the additional benefit of reliably squaring the tool in the spindle after every tool change operation - thereby ensuring the highest levels of repeatability.
The end result for IPE is the ability to achieve fast, accurate and reliable material removal rates during roughing operations as well as super-fine finishes.
Said Mark Brookes, project leader (Team 1) at IPE: "Our machines operate 'round the clock' - so it's important that the tooling is up to the job.
We decided on Nikken's 3-Lock system because it is a premium product that delivers premium results in terms of accuracy, process reliability and reduced tool wear." IPE's relationship with Nikken is not just confined to providing 3-Lock tooling for the Matsuura manufacturing cell.
In a different part of IPE's manufacturing facility - Nikken's high-performance IT50 tooling systems are used on a three Mazak machine FMS and a Nikken 4-axis rotary table (CNC 202) has been integrated on a twin-pallet machining centre - enabling complex aluminium components to be machined in a single set-up.
• Nikken Kosakusho UK: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
