http://www.mmsonline.com/zones/rss.aspx?taxid=1530&cid=60912&type=zoneThe latest information on Workholding.(c) © 2008 Gardner Publications, Inc5As a small shop, Cross Paths Corporation relies on outside help to maintain a lean, efficient working environment. With fast deliveries of needed products, a free CAD library and a focus on customer service, Reid Supply Company helps the shop keep inventories low and maintain its focus on producing quality parts for customers.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/industrial-supplier-aids-job-shops-lean-efforts.aspxMon, 9 Nov 2009 0:0:0 ESTAn in-depth look at the overall application is the best way to determine the most suitable workholding for a job. Experienced workholding engineers can play an important role in the selection process. http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/proper-workholding-selection.aspxFri, 18 Sep 2009 0:0:0 ESTBill Graham, Marketing Manager, Kitagawa-NorthTech Inc.Quality consistency is a crucial characteristic to have for a shop to succeed. Producing such work for customers requires quality consistency inside the shop as well, including everything from shop management to the machines’ tooling and workholding. http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/collets-offer-quality-consistency.aspxThu, 17 Sep 2009 0:0:0 ESTLori Beckman, Managing EditorJoe Gibbs Racing applies a number of workholding techniques to speed the production of racing components its engineering team creates every day.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/getting-concept-to-car-faster.aspxMon, 14 Sep 2009 0:0:0 ESTDerek Korn, Senior EditorThis job shop’s commitment to lean allows its business to grow while it remains in the facility where it has to stay.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/moving-forward-in-order-to-stay-put.aspxFri, 10 Jul 2009 0:0:0 ESTPeter Zelinski, Senior EditorThese vise jaws use protruding, mechanical pins to repeatedly support workpieces either horizontally or at angles. They are said to allow quicker setups than conventional parallels.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/pins-the-alternative-to-parallels.aspxWed, 10 Jun 2009 0:0:0 ESTDerek Korn, Senior EditorIcing plates use the adhesive power of ice to securely clamp parts of virtually limitless shapes and materials for milling and turning operations.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/cold-clamping-for-small-delicate-parts.aspxFri, 15 May 2009 0:0:0 ESTMatt Danford, EditorIn its effort to streamline every step of the mold building process, this company has upgraded its deep-hole drilling capability with a new six-axis machine. A rotary table with magnetic workholding enhances this machine’s flexibility.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/a-deeply-holistic-approach.aspxTue, 12 May 2009 0:0:0 ESTMark Albert, Editor in ChiefUnderstanding all aspects of the production process and considering how they interact is the only way to ensure problems are addressed appropriately and proper solutions can be put into place.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/don39t-blame-the-workholding.aspxFri, 24 Apr 2009 0:0:0 ESTEdited by: Chris Felix, Associate Editor  Two aerospace job shops in California collaborated to produce a workholding fixture that allows any shop to set up a fully fixtured pallet dedicated to a five-axis job and then store the fixtured pallets for immediate use whenever the job repeats. http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/job-shop-developed-dovetail-fixture-takes-wing.aspxMon, 13 Apr 2009 0:0:0 ESTMark Albert, Editor in ChiefThis machine has no toolholders and no tombstone—but there is a camera. Here are details of a machining center designed for micromachining.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/a-micro-machine-design.aspxMon, 6 Apr 2009 0:0:0 ESTPeter Zelinski, Senior EditorHummingbird takes on machining work that is too small for most shops to handle. In fact, Hummingbird tries not to handle it either. To accurately machine the tiniest parts, this shop relies on processes that are as hands-off as possible.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/too-small-to-touch.aspxMon, 6 Apr 2009 0:0:0 ESTPeter Zelinski, Senior EditorHigh-pressure vises are able to safely generate a significant amount of clamping force without machine operators resorting to using hammers or “cheater bars.”http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/the-high-pressure-vise-an-alternative-to-cheating2.aspxThu, 26 Mar 2009 0:0:0 ESTDerek Korn, Senior EditorA sliding, locking mechanism allows users to quickly push this vise’s moveable jaw close to the workpiece before tightening the wrench. This minimizes the number of wrench turns to secure the part and allows users to quickly clamp parts of various sizes.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/a-vise-designed-with-cnc-machines-in-mind.aspxThu, 26 Mar 2009 0:0:0 ESTDerek Korn, Senior EditorLarge parts can be difficult to fixture for effecient machining. With a custom-designed Amrok fixture, workholding manufacturer Advanced Machine & Engineering was able to effectively clamp 5,000-pound sections of a slurry mining pump and significantly reduce cycle times. http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/dedicated-fixture-eases-large-part-clamping.aspxFri, 20 Feb 2009 0:0:0 ESTIn a world where faster production rates mean more profits, shops strive to find the quickest way to meet deadlines without sacrificing quality. One way to do this is to convert to quick-change workholding and tooling systems.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/quick-change-systems-save-time-and-manpower.aspxWed, 21 Jan 2009 0:0:0 ESTLori Beckman, Managing EditorThis tool manufacturer had to automate its processes after switching from low-volume special orders to high-volume production runs. Since implementing Tsudakoma tilting rotary tables along with robotics and a pallet conveyor, the shop has increased sales by 400 percent.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/automation-helps-move-to-high-volume-production.aspxTue, 14 Oct 2008 0:0:0 ESTA creative Midwestern shop shows that its productivity edge runs all the way down to its relationships with vendor partners. With the right clamping and centering device, the company has been able to reduce workpiece change-over times by as much as 50 percent while improving rigidity and precision.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/faster-change-overs-allow-focus-on-machining.aspxFri, 3 Oct 2008 0:0:0 ESTEdited by: Chris Felix, Associate Editor In the early 1990s, Mr. Langlois decided to set up a shop specializing in close-tolerance aerospace parts. A friend of his recommended that he consider a colleted-spindle turning machine and suggested that he look into Hardinge lathes. Mr. Langlois purchased a used Hardinge HNC lathe and began making aircraft landing gear bushings.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/direct-drive-rotary-system-reduces-cycle-time.aspxMon, 22 Sep 2008 0:0:0 ESTWhen customer-supplied fixtures just weren’t cutting it, this automotive shop turned to Advanced Machine & Engineering for dedicated, hydraulic tombstones to use on its high-volume production runs. The new fixtures have since reduced load/unload time, cycle time and scrap rates while providing error-free loading.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/hydraulic-workholding-doubles-output.aspxWed, 17 Sep 2008 16:13:39 ESTThis shop used carrier workholding, in which the workpiece is gripped by a thin layer of extra material, to reduce cycle times. However, the cost of the carrier material and the time taken to remove it sometimes outweighed any cycle time improvements. Vise jaws from Talon Grip Systems that can grip as little as 0.06 inch of material allowed the shop to reduce carrier sizes and fully realize the benefits of this workholding method. http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/vise-jaws-carry-shop-to-new-levels-of-productivity.aspxWed, 17 Sep 2008 15:55:17 ESTHaving access to the entire perimeter of a part minimizes set ups because shops can machine five sides of the part in one fixturing. This enables shops to reduce the total number of manufacturing operations, the number of times parts must be handled, the potential for part damage due to excessive handling and the ohttp://www.mmsonline.com/articles/hydraulic-workholding-devices-allow-total-perimeter-machining.aspxWed, 20 Aug 2008 0:0:0 ESTDerek Korn, Senior EditorFor almost 3 years Mr. Bouchard struggled with a machine application designed to produce life-critical airbag parts for Arrow Machine’s primary client in the automotive industry. With the help of RH Collets, a manufacturer of specialty workholding and related components for Hydromats and other machinery, Mr. Bouchard is solving the problem—not with one new part but with a series of solutions. http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/specialty-company-knows-its-collets.aspxMon, 18 Aug 2008 0:0:0 ESTEdited by: Lori Beckman, Managing EditorMedical implant work is not just small in terms of workpiece sizes. Lot sizes and lead times can also be small when the product is still under development. To compete for implant work, this shop aims to offer cost savings in the face of all of this smallness.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/economies-of-scale.aspxSun, 22 Jun 2008 0:0:0 ESTPeter Zelinski, Senior EditorModular, magnetic workholding blocks have changed the way this shop approaches the machining of both large and small workpieces. The blocks’ portability allows them to be used on a variety of different machines. Their flexibility often eliminates the need to create custom fixtures.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/attracted-to-a-better-way.aspxThu, 29 May 2008 0:0:0 ESTDerek Korn, Senior EditorHeat treating can distort parts, especially round, thin-walled workpieces. During finish-turning, such components can conform to the shape of the chuck, only to spring back to an out-of-round state after clamping. Hardinge has developed a chuck with multiple gripping fingers to avoid this problem.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/chuck-helps-restore-thin-walled-hardened-parts-to-roundness.aspxTue, 19 Feb 2008 0:0:0 ESTQuick-change collets can improve production times and accuracy while alleviating any change-over issues typically associated with standard collets.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/the-change-to-quick-change-collets.aspxTue, 1 Jan 2008 0:0:0 ESTEdited by: Chris Felix, Associate Editor Urethane spindle liners present a viable option to steel to fill the gap between spindle ID and bar OD. They protect both the spindle and bar stock and increase machine performance.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/line-your-spindles-line-your-pockets.aspxFri, 30 Nov 2007 0:0:0 ESTChris Felix, Associate EditorBecause of the possibility of workpiece deformation, clamping using three-jaw chucks is not always suitable for final machining. In cases where tight machining tolerances must be upheld, this Danish cutting specialist relies on vacuum clamping technology to hold its parts.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/hold-on-with-vacuum-clamping.aspxFri, 30 Nov 2007 0:0:0 ESTEdited by: Chris Felix, Associate Editor These tips help solve turning, grinding and milling workholding problems, particularly for thin wall parts.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/selecting-the-right-workholding-solution.aspxFri, 30 Nov 2007 0:0:0 ESTEdited by: Chris Felix, Associate Editor This shop realized single-setup machining on a multitasking turning center, but there was still more efficiency to be found. When all of the part's machining had been consolidated, the shop realized that assembly operations could be performed at the same station as well.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/let-assembly-be-the-inspection.aspxSun, 2 Sep 2007 0:0:0 ESTPeter Zelinski, Senior EditorClamping fixtures can be part of the problem when chatter occurs in a high speed machining process. Researchers have now discovered that clamping fixtures can also be part of the solution. A supplier of integrated tooling systems has developed palletized workholding that uses a viscoelastic layer to absorb vibrational energy, thus reducing the tendency for a machining process to cause chatter. The benefits of this technology are improved surface finish, lower cutting forces and longer tool life.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/workholding-that-holds-off-chatter.aspxTue, 8 May 2007 0:0:0 ESTMark Albert, Editor in ChiefThis shop makes the oral devices that helped the shop owner and members of his family. Unattended machining is the key to making this therapy more accessible.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/machining-for-air.aspxFri, 4 May 2007 0:0:0 ESTPeter Zelinski, Senior EditorThis expanding mandrel is designed to locate and hold thin-walled parts on the ID to avoid distortion during precision machining.  It can also be used to hold heavy parts with large bores for heavy machining operations.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/expanding-the-expanding-mandrel39s-usefulness.aspxTue, 1 May 2007 0:0:0 ESTMark Albert, Editor in ChiefCompared to barstock, castings, forgings and sawn blanks present a different set of workhandling challenges for production machining. This article looks at how Hydromat Inc. is meeting these challenges on its rotary transfer machines with engineered indexing workholders.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/complete-in-one-chucking.aspxTue, 17 Apr 2007 0:0:0 ESTChris Koepfer, Editor In ChiefA shop developed this simple solution for turning long shafts that have straightness error. A fixture holds the bowed shaft out-of-round in the steady rest so that the two ends can still turn concentrically.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/steady-rest-fixture-fixes-runout-at-the-ends.aspxThu, 1 Feb 2007 0:0:0 ESTPeter Zelinski, Senior EditorIn various applications, mechanical face drivers provide the flexibility to lower cycle times. Capable of being used to turn both small and large parts, they permit heavy and interrupted cuts.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/face-drivers-cut-change-over-time.aspxWed, 24 Jan 2007 0:0:0 ESTSyron Engineering & Manufacturing is a 28-year-old company specializing in the design and manufacture of tooling and sensors for industrial automation. One of the company's main fields of activity is the development of equipment to transfer sheet metal from one press operation to the next, primarily for automotive stamping.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/vises-facilitate-swift-change-overs-reduce-errors.aspxWed, 24 Jan 2007 0:0:0 ESTIn large part, because of the machine’s versatility, Swiss turning is increasing its penetration of the precision turned parts market. As more shops look to this technology, a look at workholding considerations is in order.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/workholding-for-swiss-turning.aspxWed, 18 Oct 2006 0:0:0 ESTChris Koepfer, Editor In ChiefA design that combines a roller gear cam and Hirth mechanical-locking coupling allows this indexer to accurately position parts in 90-degree increments.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/cam-drive-allows-quick-accurate-90-degree-indexing.aspxThu, 12 Oct 2006 0:0:0 ESTDerek Korn, Senior EditorWhen the length and stiffness of a workpiece make it difficult to machine without distorting or deflecting the part, many manufacturers turn to the steady rest as a workpiece support device. This is especially true for long axles, shafts and similar parts used in automotive or heavy equipment applications, and in oil drilling components. The most common application is to support a workpiece during turning or milling and, increasingly, during secondary operations such as ID drilling, boring and producing end face bolthole patterns.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/a-study-of-the-steady-rest.aspxWed, 16 Aug 2006 0:0:0 ESTMark Albert, Editor in ChiefDuring heavy milling operations, parts tended to creep upward and out of alignment within the vise jaws at this shop in Minnesota. Small chips got imbedded between the part and vise jaws, causing all kinds of problems. The company couldn’t operate its new Bridgeport VMC 1000 XP3 to its full potential on this part project, so the company's owner looked for a better workholding solution.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/new-vises-decrease-part-setup-time.aspxThu, 20 Jul 2006 0:0:0 ESTEdited by: Lori Beckman, Managing EditorDowntime, long setup times and hiring skilled employees for night shifts are some of the problems every shop has. In its shop, American Torch Tip has completely integrated the quick-change tool system and drastically reduced those problems by developing a system that will go in any ER-style holder. Tools can now be preset off the machine, during the first shift and while the machines are running.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/no-touch-up-needed-for-er-collet-tools.aspxThu, 20 Jul 2006 0:0:0 ESTEdited by: Chris Koepfer, Editor In Chief This shop watched its chosen niche become less profitable. Its response was a dramatic investment in new equipment, along with an information-related change that has made all of the shop’s equipment more cost-effective.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/succeeding-beyond-a-specialty.aspxWed, 14 Jun 2006 0:0:0 ESTPeter Zelinski, Senior EditorEvery turning application has a number of factors that should be considered when making the decision between a collet or a three-jaw chuck.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/applications-determine-workholding-solutions.aspxTue, 18 Apr 2006 0:0:0 ESTChris Felix, Associate EditorSwitching to a modular form of magnetic workholding enabled this global retread supplier to accommodate a greater number of parts in one setup while accelerating cycle times.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/strategic-magnetic-workholding.aspxMon, 17 Apr 2006 0:0:0 ESTChristina Bramlet, EditorModular workpiece fixturing plays a vital role in this shop’s quest to win larger, more difficult wire EDM jobs.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/how-to-handle-tall-wire-edm-work.aspxMon, 10 Apr 2006 0:0:0 ESTDerek Korn, Senior EditorHeat treating a round, thin-wall part can distort the part's diameter. This lathe chuck grips an out-of-round part without forcing the workpiece perfectly round, which eliminates the spring-back effect after machining and removal from the chuck to enable a more accurate hard-turning operation.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/net-shape-chucking-increases-hard-turning-accuracy.aspxTue, 6 Dec 2005 0:0:0 ESTDerek Korn, Senior EditorSafety, performance checks and uniform terminology are some of the issues related to lathe chucks and chuck jaws addressed by a key industry committee. http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/new-chuck-standards-take-hold.aspxSun, 29 May 2005 0:0:0 ESTMark Albert, Editor in ChiefHardinge Inc.-Workholding Div. has configured its all-digital 5C rotary indexing system with infrared (IR) "send and receive," which is said to elevate program control and editing to new levels. This capability uses handheld computers with a Pocket PC operating system.http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/rotary-indexing-system-offers-wireless-program.aspxWed, 25 May 2005 0:0:0 EST