Schunk toolholding solutions for subcontractor

When the Advanced Engineering Division of Finecut acquired a 5-axis high speed machining centre for its mould and die machining operation, the company immediately realised that tooling would play an important part.

CAD/CAM manager Danny Welsh explains: "We naturally reviewed the marketplace and heat shrink systems were the only thing that could match the guaranteed three micron balanced accuracy of the Schunk Tribos system. A three micron accuracy is exceptional considering our previous high-end collet chucks could only deliver an accuracy between 10 to 20 microns. However, heat shrink systems took a long time to heat to the temperatures needed to clamp and un-clamp the cutting tools whereas the Tribos could clamp and release a cutting tool instantly."

Based in Lancing, Sussex, Finecut acquired Tribos S HSK63A toolholders to grip 12 and 20 mm tool shanks. To clamp the cutting tools supplied by ITC in the Tribos holders, Finecut acquired the Schunk SVP2 pump system for clamping and un-clamping tools with corresponding SRE rings to hold the Tribos holders during clamping.

Mr Welsh continues: "The Schunk system arrived within a matter of weeks of the company acquiring the 5-axis machining centre. Despite this relatively short period, we instantly witnessed surface finish improvements due to the three micron accuracy and the improved clamping rigidity."

Since acquiring the Tribos S system, the West Sussex manufacturers' workload has evolved to include deep cavity mould machining. While the solid carbide cutting tools from ITC provided a 100 to 150 mm reach, the company frequently needed to machine at depths of up to 250 mm while machining intricate forms. With such deep cavities the company's cutting tools couldn't reach. To resolve the issue, Finecut once again turned to Schunk.

The solution was the Schunk Tribos SVL toolholder extensions. The slim-line Tribos SVL toolholders can be clamped inside the existing Tribos S toolholders to enable operators to machine complex forms inside deep cavities. To this end, Finecut acquired the 6, 10 and 12 mm diameter toolholders with 100 mm extension length and also the 6 and 12 mm diameter holders with a 150 mm extension length.

Author
Michael Richards

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Supporting Information

Related Companies

ITC Ltd
Schunk Intec Ltd
UEI Finecut

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