Sam Tucker, Author at Northfield

Custom Workholding Solutions for Precision Grinding Applications

Custom Workholding Brief

As an international leader in turbine and spray paint system design and manufacturing, our customer demands nothing short of excellence in their precision grinding operations. With a reputation as a world leader, they approached us with a specific custom workholding challenge.

The Workholding Challenge

The need for a custom workholding solution to securely clamp 1″ diameter parts while accommodating a large 1.8″ diameter hub.

Standard workholding options were inadequate for meeting these precise requirements, necessitating a tailored approach to achieve the desired outcome.

The Northfield Precision Custom Solution

Drawing upon the capabilities of the Northfield Precision Model 655W Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck with custom sub jaws and changeable inserts, we crafted a solution that surpassed expectations. This custom chuck’s standout feature lies in its large stroke capability. With a total diameter stroke of 0.500″ (0.250″ per jaw), it can reach around large hubs on customer parts, providing a solid foundation for our custom workholding solution.

To address the client’s needs, we engineered specific clearances on the sides of the inserts, allowing for seamless side loading of parts between them. This is an innovative approach, coupled with multiple sets of inserts to accommodate four different part sizes. The solution facilitates rapid changeover times while maintaining exceptional repeatability and concentricity, boasting an impressive 0.0001″ T.I.R.

Northfield Precision Model 655W Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck 1

Summary

For precision grinding applications demanding bespoke workholding solutions, Northfield Precision delivers excellence through innovative design and unwavering attention to detail, perfectly suited to the exacting standards of a world leader in spray painting technologies and parts.

Do you have a part that requires a custom workholding solution?

Then reach out to our team

https://www.northfield.com/contact/

in Air Chucks, Northfield

Custom Workholding Swivel Jaws

Introduction:

In this blog post, we explore the implementation of custom workholding swivel jaws, the challenges they address, and how Northfield Precision has delivered this solution to improve their customers machining operations.

Brief:

Custom workholding was required to allow for the accurate clamping of parts with irregular shapes or out-of-round features, ensuring consistent alignment and minimizing deformation. Northfield Precision’s expertise lies in crafting precision workholding solutions tailored to the specific needs of customers, offering unparalleled levels of accuracy and repeatability.

The Workholding Challenge:

One of the primary challenges in precision machining is the clamping of parts with non-standard geometries. Traditional fixed jaw chucks often struggle to accommodate such parts without compromising accuracy. Additionally, the deformation caused by rigid clamping methods can lead to inaccuracies in the machined components.

Northfield Precision Custom Solution:

Swivel Jaw - Model 1000W Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck — Swivel Jaw – Model 1000W Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck

Northfield Precision’s custom workholding swivel jaws address these challenges head-on. By incorporating swiveling capabilities into the jaw design, these chucks can adapt to the unique contours of the workpiece, ensuring optimal contact and alignment. This innovative approach minimizes the spring-back effect associated with clamping irregular parts, thereby enhancing overall machining precision.

The chuck has a customized coolant delivery system, a custom, changeable coolant nozzle that directs coolant toward the cutting tool. This evacuates chips and keeps the cutting tool cool while machining, therefore maintaining accuracy.

Additionally, the Swivel Pad Subjaws have two swivel bolt locations. Allowing for easy change over to a new set of Swivel Pads. Designed to accommodate a larger different Inner Diameter that wouldn’t be possible with only one swivel bolt location.

Result of Swivel Jaws:

The implementation of custom workholding swivel jaws from Northfield Precision has revolutionized machining operations for countless customers. By allowing for precise clamping without distorting the workpiece, these solutions enable the machining of complex geometries with unparalleled accuracy. Customers benefit from reduced scrap rates, improved part quality, and enhanced productivity, ultimately translating into significant cost savings and a competitive edge in the market.

Conclusion:

In precision machining, every detail matters. Custom workholding swivel jaws highlight the possibilities of offering a tailored solution to the challenges of machining irregular parts.

With Northfield Precision’s expertise in crafting precision workholding solutions, manufacturers can confidently tackle even the most intricate machining tasks, secure in the knowledge that their components will meet the highest standards of accuracy and quality.

Do you have a part that required custom work holding? Give us a call now.

(516) 431-1112

Contact Northfield

Looking for more projects from this customer? Check out this previous blog. https://www.northfield.com/ring-shaped-custom-workholding/

in Air Chucks

Graphite Ring - Custom Workholding

Introduction

Discover how the Northfield Precision Model 1000W Sliding-Jaw custom workholding Air Chuck is transforming our customer’s machining operations. This advanced chuck is equipped with specialized cooling modifications. It addresses the challenges faced by our customer in machining ring shaped parts, gripped by their inner diameter.

Brief

Our customer requires a customised workholding chuck that completes the second stage of their machining process. In the case of the Northfield Precision Model 1000W Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck featured here, there are several customer requirements that we will be addressing:

Accuracy
Chip Evacuation
Thermal Management
Part Positioning

Precision machining demands meticulous attention to detail. Especially when dealing with intricate parts with tight tolerances. Challenges such as chip evacuation, thermal management, and consistent part positioning can significantly impact machining accuracy and efficiency. Traditional off-the-shelf workholding solutions often fall short in addressing these specific challenges. Leading to compromised quality and increased production costs.

Northfield Precision Custom Workholding Solution

The Northfield Precision Model 1000W Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck offers a custom workholding solution to the challenges encountered in precision machining. With customized coolant delivery systems, interchangeable nozzles, and full-face-contact Axial Locators, this advanced chuck is engineered to optimize performance for specific machining applications. The integration of these features ensures efficient chip evacuation, precise thermal management, and consistent part positioning, guaranteeing superior machining accuracy and repeatability.

Accuracy: The customer demanded a high level of precision, with tolerances as tight as 0.0001” TIR across critical surfaces. Achieving this level of accuracy required meticulous design. Ensuring every aspect of the chuck met the stringent requirements.
Chip Evacuation: The customer requested a customized coolant delivery system to effectively evacuate chips and keep the cutting tool cool during machining. Efficient chip evacuation was crucial for two reasons: maintaining a clean cutting environment and preventing chip build-up that could affect accuracy.
Thermal Management: To prevent heat-induced dimensional inaccuracies and to prolong tool life, the customer required a solution that could effectively manage temperatures during machining. The customized coolant delivery system ensures consistent performance throughout the machining process.
Part Positioning: Consistent part positioning was essential to achieving accurate machining results. The inclusion of a full-face-contact Axial Locator ensured that the part would sit on its high spots when loaded into the chuck. Therefore, providing optimal contact between the workpiece and the chuck face.

Custom Workholding Results

By investing in a custom workholding solution our customer is achieving unparalleled precision and efficiency in their machining operations.

This custom Northfield solution has:

Ability to maintain accuracy within 0.0001” TIR
Accommodate a wide range of part geometries
Seamless transition between machining stages
Ensures the highest quality output

The result is improved productivity, reduced setup times, and increased profitability.

Ready to elevate your precision machining capabilities with custom workholding solutions from Northfield Precision? Our team of experts is here to assist you every step of the way.

Reach out to us via phone, email, or through our online contact form to get started. Let’s work together to achieve precision.

Contact Northfield

in Diaphragm Chucks

Achieving a secure workholding grip on a funnel-shaped part

Introduction:

In the realm of manufacturing, precision is paramount. To achieve the highest levels of accuracy, Northfield engineers play a pivotal role in developing custom solutions. With over 30 years of experience in the field, Northfield Precision consistently demonstrate their expertise in delivering custom workholding solutions, surpassing client expectations.

Client Brief:

Recently, a customer approached Northfield Precision with a challenging project. Their process demanded gripping the outer diameter (OD) of a funnel-shaped part, but in an upside-down configuration. Accomplishing this task while maintaining face runout within .0001″ TIR on the annular face of the Hard Stop presented a significant challenge.

The Problem to Be Solved:

The critical problem to solve was achieving a secure grip on the OD of the funnel-shaped part in an inverted orientation. This required the workholding system to exhibit minimal face runout, ensuring the annular face of the Hard Stop maintained precision within .0001″ TIR. The task demanded expert engineering and innovative solutions to achieve the desired outcome.

Northfield Precision’s Solution:

Leveraging their extensive experience in custom workholding, Northfield Precision went to work. Their skilled engineers devised a solution that began with the Northfield DPH-500 Diaphragm Chuck. This chuck is renowned for its exceptional accuracy, boasting an impressive .000010″ TIR. The chuck’s special extended Top Jaws were the key to securely gripping the flange OD of the funnel-shaped part.

To tackle the challenge of maintaining face runout within .0001″ TIR, Northfield Precision engineered a Hard Stop. This has an annular face designed for superior precision. The annular face achieved the required level of accuracy, ensuring minimal variation in perpendicularity relative to the chuck’s rotation axis.

Results and Conclusion:

The combination of:

The Northfield DPH-500 Diaphragm Chuck,
Special extended Top Jaws,
The precision-engineered Hard Stop

Enabled Northfield Precision to deliver a tailored workholding solution that surpassed the client’s expectations. The upside-down gripping of the funnel-shaped part was achieved flawlessly, while face runout was maintained within the critical tolerance of .0001″ TIR on the annular face of the Hard Stop.

When it comes to challenging workholding requirements, clients can trust Northfield Precision to provide innovative, reliable, and custom solutions that meet their unique needs. With their extensive experience and unwavering commitment to precision, Northfield Precision continues to be a leader in the field of custom workholding. Click here to reach out to the team.

in Air Chucks, Custom Work Holding, Northfield

A Northfield Model 450WHF Chuck Achieving Customized Precision

Northfield Precision’s Tailored Solution

Introduction:

In the dynamic world of manufacturing and machining, our engineering team at Northfield Precision stands out as a trusted provider of innovative workholding solutions. With a strong focus on customization, we have successfully addressed the unique needs of our clients.

This blog post delves into how our engineering team met a specific client brief, analyzed key details, tackled the problem at hand, and developed a customized solution using the Model 450WHF Chuck.

Client Brief:

When faced with stringent requirements for their machining application, a valued client turned to Northfield Precision. Their process demanded absolute precision and secure workpiece holding, whilst requiring seamless integration with their existing machinery. The client sought a customized chuck that would optimize productivity and align perfectly with their unique needs.

The Challenge:

The client’s machining process presented a challenge: achieving impeccable precision while adhering to dimensional constraints imposed by their existing machinery. Any misalignment would result in compromised results and expensive rework. The task was to engineer a workholding solution that not only provided exceptional holding capabilities but also seamlessly integrated with the client’s existing machinery, ensuring optimal precision throughout the process.

Northfield Precision’s Solution:

After analyzing the client’s needs, Northfield Precision’s engineering team focused on adapting the Model 450WHF Chuck to the specific dimensional constraints and enhancing its holding capabilities.

The team modified the chuck’s design, incorporating a custom radial banking surface and pin configuration. This adjustment enabled the chuck to securely grip the client’s workpieces, ensuring precise alignment during the loading process.

Additionally, the team integrated a specialized 4-port air tube system with custom pistons, empowering the chuck with open, close, autolube, and air-detect functions. This innovative feature significantly enhanced the overall functionality and efficiency of this customized workholding solution.

The Result:

Thanks to Northfield Precision’s customized Model 450WHF Chuck, the client successfully achieved their desired precision and seamless integration with their existing workflow. The workpieces were securely held in place, minimizing the risk of misalignment, and maximizing machining accuracy. The tailored chuck seamlessly integrated with their machinery, ensuring smooth operations and boosting overall productivity.

Conclusion:

Northfield Precision’s dedication to customization is highlighted with this adaptation Model 450WHF Chuck. Through a comprehensive understanding of the client’s requirements, meticulous analysis, and expert engineering, they delivered a tailored solution that surpassed expectations.

You can confidently rely on Northfield Precision to provide customized workholding solutions that optimize precision, enhance productivity, and drive success in their unique machining applications.

Click here to reach out to the team and discuss your project.

in Northfield

Eastec May 16-18, 2023. Booth #5508

We are excited to be part of the Eastec Manufacturing and Technology event again. Almost doubling in size since the last event we can wait to meet you all.

Spread over three days with Keynotes, Industry Networking Sessions and 400+ exhibitors showcasing new products and services to keep your business moving forward, it looks set to be a great show.

Northfield Precision – Booth #5508

Northfield Team Exhibition Stand

Expect a warm welcome at the show. Here are just some of the products that we will have on display…

Pressure Lok™

The Pressure-Lok™ air chuck is charged with air by a special handle and holds air pressure for 3 weeks. Ideally implemented in machining operations that do not have access to a continuous air supply. The quick connect fitting is compatible with all Northfield chucks and the air pressure can be altered between 5 & 80 P.S.I..

Balancing Chucks

Northfield is the world’s premier manufacturer of ultra-precision balance chucks for prop shafts. These chucks feature the highest accuracy, shortest hung mass, highest rpm, and fastest most accurate changeover in chucks that weigh less than half that of our competitors.

Custom Projects


Machining close tolerance power tool parts	Simultaneous use of customs chucks

We can customise any of our chucks to meet your specific needs. Check out some of our recent custom projects here.

Classic Products

Northfield Collet Chucks provide simple work holding applications for a variety of part sizes that require a significant amount of clamp force.
Northfield Precision Air Chucks, also known as sliding jaw chucks, are the benchmark for high precision quality, efficient, and easy to use air chucks.
Northfield Diaphragm Chucks are the most accurate chucks in the world and are the fastest to open and close out of all of the chuck types

We are on booth #5508. We look forward to welcoming you.

If you would like to grab some time with an engineer at the show. You can write to us here – Contact Northfield.