As the push for industrial automation continues to rise, tighter tolerances and more efficient changeovers have become increasingly essential within the manufacturing space. The requirement to accomplish these jobs within shorter lead times at lower costs is also a growing expectation—especially for high-volume orders.
One way to optimize your machining process is to replace time-consuming manual setups with pneumatic clamping fixtures that can be integrated directly into the workholding foundation of your choice. One example of this includes the SCHUNK Vero-S zero-point locating modules.
Efficient Changeover without Sacrifice
Zero-point locating modules like SCHUNK’s are designed with a fast-paced shop in mind. What does that mean? SCHUNK claims with the installation of a Vero-S system, your average setup time can decrease by up to 90%, and here’s how
When a workholding fixture is designed to be used with the Vero-S system, it is located and clamped with a clamping pin (or pull stud) on the backside of the clamping surface. Once the workholding fixture is ready to start a machining cycle, the machinist pneumatically opens the clamping slides with as little as 6 bar—the top tooling is then clamped, and air is released to clamp on the pin. The Vero-S system uses a power-off clamping design, so in the event that there is a loss of pressure your workpiece remains clamped.
The entirety of Schunk’s stationary workholding products are designed to be compatible with the Vero-S modules—that provides 1000s of combinations of workholding fixturing options that are able to accommodate quick changeovers in 3, 4, and 5-axis machining centers, turning centers, electrical discharge machining (EDM), and more.
This process has been optimized to reduce setup times in a number of ways. First, a clamping pin can be installed into a pod at as much as a 23º angle from center—allowing for a fast yet precise installation. How precise? The repeat accuracy of a Vero-S pod is less
than 0.005 mm. The patented dual-stroke actuation also offers pull-down forces up to 8kN, with an optional turbo function that increases the pull-down forces up to 28kN for maximum use of the machine’s performance.
A maintenance-free design eliminates the need for regular cleaning due to the completely sealed body. Other features such as cone seals, used to protect the receiver from contaminants, and air purge options encourage even longer life of the modules.
Capitalize on Your Machining Envelope
Using a workholding solution that offers a low-profile design ensures less of your machining envelope is being allocated to workholding fixturing. Opening up that extra space provides more space for a higher quantity of parts to be machined, thus increasing throughput with each cycle.
This video illustrates how a specially machined AMROK CNC tombstone can support SCHUNK Vero-S locating modules to increase a machine’s productivity with both fewer and faster changeovers, reducing overall costs.
All together, a zero point locating system appears to be a solid investment in the lineup of pneumatic workholding options. The simple setup with such precise accuracy and reliable repeatability is a no-brainer. Contact a workholding expert to see if Schunk’s Vero-S modules and workholding fixtures are an appropriate fit to improve your shop’s throughput while keeping costs down.
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