Image

Standard collet chuck for special toolholders

Jan. 23, 2009
BIG Kaiser has introduced its ER Collet Chuck, the first common industry collet chuck available with the BIG-Plus interface. A standard collet system can now be used in conjunction with a BIGPlus toolholder to achieve the benefits ...

BIG Kaiser has introduced its ER Collet Chuck, the first common industry collet chuck available with the BIG-Plus interface. A standard collet system can now be used in conjunction with a BIGPlus toolholder to achieve the benefits that the dualcontact spindle system was intended to provide.

The ER16 and ER32 Collet Chucks are available only in BIG-Plus CAT40 and 50 tapers and are capable of supplying coolant through the spindle or through the spindle flange. The ER16 collet chuck is available in 2.5-in., 4-in. and 6-in. gauge lengths for 40 taper, and 3.5-in., 5-in., and 6-in. gauge lengths for 50 tapers. The ER32 chuck is available in 3-in., 4-in. and 6-in. gauge lengths for 40 taper and 3.5-in., 5-in., and 6-in. gauge lengths for 50 tapers.

The ER series is designed to allow users to take advantage of the BIG-PLUS benefits without having to invest in an entirely new collet system. The new chucks are supplied with the tool Standard collet chuck for special toolholders body and collet nut only and will accept ER collets or sealed nuts from any manufacturer.

For high-precision and high-speed applications, BIG Kaiser continues to recommend the use of their new Baby Collets due to their superior gripping force and runout accuracy compared with an ER collet.

The simultaneous spindle and flange contact provided by BIG-Plus toolholders enhances rigidity and repeatability and results in high metal removal rates, high accuracy, fine surface finish and long tool life. It will also minimize vibration to prevent fretting corrosion, eliminate axial movement during high-speed operation; and resist cutter deflection, improving accuracy and finish.

The combination of Unilock and WEN magnetics is claimed to provide affordable, easy-to-use solutions to reduce setup and process time in both hand-operated and automated environments.

BIG Kaiser Precision Tooling Inc. also announced it has joined forces with WEN Technology Inc. of Raleigh, N.C., to introduce Zero-Point clamping for magnetic workholding applications. BIG Kaiser’s Unilock workholding and WEN magnetics are a good fit because both systems grip workpieces from one face only, leaving all remaining faces available for manufacturing.

WEN Electro-permanent magnetic systems only use electrical energy to switch from off-to-on and on-to-off; once in the On or Off state, the electrical cable is disconnected. Similarly, Unilock chucks remain clamped in the disengaged state making it easy to shuttle magnets on Unilock pallets and position and clamp them into manufacturing cells with a high degree of rigidity and accuracy.

The BIG Kaiser Unilock Workholding System offers repeatability of location from one workpiece blank to another and for the transfer of work from one machine tool to another.

In another development from BIG Kaiser Precision Tooling Inc., the company has introduced the Quick Change Clamping Chuck from Unilock for low profile applications in water. With all of the features of the BIG Kaiser Unilock Clamping System, the 150 mm by 100 mm clamping chuck is only 40-mm tall. Because the zero point chuck accepts the same clamping knob as chucks almost twice its height, the company said it is well suited for environments where limited travel range creates a problem with overall stack height.

Compatibility and rigidity are achieved by utilizing the same clamping knob and ram system as larger BIG Kaiser Unilock chucks. The system’s standard 40-mm clamping knob can be attached directly to workpieces or fixtures that have as much as a 12-mm thread.

The large retention thread relative to the chuck’s small size is useful for hightorque applications. Gerard Vacio, BIG Kaiser’s workholding systems product manager, explained. “The stainless steel 150 mm by 100mm clamping chuck has an integrated mounting pattern to support many existing wire EDM tables. Waterjet users will also find it useful as a zero point clamping system.”

The chuck accepts Unilock clamping knobs from the top or bottom side, allowing parts to be flipped upside down. Its positioning of better than 0.0002-in. repeatable TIR is backed by high rigidity through the use of spring-based mechanical clamping. An air pressure boost can be added to increase spring clamping force by more than 30 percent.