Product category:
Chucks and collets for rotational work
News Release from: Pratt Burnerd International | Subject: Programmable power chuck
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 05 July 2005
High speed power chuck is programmable
The production version of a radical new programmable power chuck is equipped with a high ratio gear box that enables it to operate at high spindle speeds and low torque.
At EMO, Pratt Burnerd International will be showing for the first time the production version of its radical new programmable power chuck The chuck will be operating on a Colchester Tornedo TB
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 23 Jun 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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Programmable power chuck reduces set-up times
Programmable power chuck, that provides far greater versatility and a significant reduction in setting up times, will be shown at the UK's Productivity Partnership in the North exhibition.
Chuck offers wider versatility and shorter set-ups
Offering a jaw stroke of more than 50mm per jaw, when compared with the typical power chuck of 5mm, a programmable power chuck provides greater versatility and reduction in setting up times.
The new Pratt Burnerd Progammable Power Chuck (PPC) is a faster, neater version of the prototype, first made available last year, and is as fast in operation as any conventional power chuck.
It is equipped with a high ratio gear box, which enables it to operate at high spindle speeds (up to 5,000 rev/min) and low torque.
It is also faster to actuate than the prototype, minimising setting up times.
Further reading
Machine CNC controls chuck clamping force
Clamping force is controlled through the machine tool's controller in a geared programmable power chuck allowing the safe operating speed can be more than twice that of a conventional chuck.
Programmable power chuck maximises CNC benefits
A programmable power chuck enables users of CNC lathes and turning, mill/turn centres to harness and realise the full power of CNC turning and machining at an affordable and realistic cost.
Program chuck jaw movements and gripping force
Patented programmable powered chuck at MACH 2002, allows the control of jaw stroke, jaw engagement/ retraction start/stop, gripping force and speed of movement to be program-controlled.
The new chuck has been developed by Pratt Burnerd's design team in response to customer requirement.
General manager/director of the company, Peter Simms, said: "We have always concentrated on research and development as the main focus of our business, with the intention of meeting market needs even before they are apparent to the customer".
"The new chuck has been developed to enable customers to take advantage of the opportunities created by higher spindle speeds and faster metal removal rates in the latest lathes and turning centres".
"The new PPC is just the latest in a long line of innovation, which has included the world's first international power chuck, the high speed quick change chuck (the market leader in its field) and the opto-coupled gripmeter which was the forerunner of our radio frequency gripmeter." The new programmable power chuck (PPC) provides much reduced set up and change over times.
It has both high accuracy and repeatability (25m TIR).
Based on a traditional scroll chuck design, it has a much wider jaw movement than a normal power chuck, up to 50mm compared with only about 5mm.
Unlike conventional power chucks, the PPC is fully integrated with and programmable through the lathe's controller and does not depend on a hydraulic cylinder.
This eliminates the problems associated with a hydraulic system, such as the power consumption (often as much as 3kW) which effectively reduces spindle torque and power, the inaccuracies caused by the temperature gradient created along the spindle and the reduced cycle times due to hydraulic inertia.
It also significantly reduces the space required.
* A quick jaw change is standard on the PPC - the new PPC is driven electromechanically so the clamping force can be applied precisely and is repeatable - clamping is accurate even if only 1/10th of the clamping force is used.
Due to the accuracy with which the jaws can be set, the PPC can also be used to clamp to a specific size so can be used in a similar way to a collet.
When clamping thin walled or delicate parts the jaws can be set to the dimension of the workpiece and the elasticity of the workpiece used to provide the clamping force.
The extra long jaw stroke allows clamping over the top of flanges that could not otherwise be clamped by a power chuck.
The jaws can be pre-programmed so 1st and 2nd operation work and short batches are an economical option because the jaws can be set automatically for the next diameter.
No operator intervention is necessary to adjust the clamping forces and he can switch between components using just the lathe CNC key pad.
Also on show at EMO will be the Pratt Burnerd Radio Frequency Gripmeter, a dynamic clamping force measurement device.
It offers the simplest and most comprehensive means of calculating the reduction in grip, combining a convenient handheld display unit, loadcell and PC compatible software.
It comprises a loadcell transmitter and handset receiver.
As an additional benefit the RFG can measure spindle speed, which is an integral component of dynamic clamping force.
Pratt Burnerd will be participating on the 600 Group stand at EMO, along with sister company Crawford Collets and other Group companies.
* EMO 2005 Hannover, September 14-21, 600 Group, Hall 17, stand A50.
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