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Custom Balancing Workholding

Our customer provides Dynamic Balancing Machines and Services. Inspecting and balancing: torque converters and rotating driveline parts up to 10,000lbs.

Brief

The request is for a chuck that can expand to grip the inner diameter of female splined shafts, while it rotates on their balancing machine.

The challenge is to improve their previous solution. They were previously using a “homemade” fixture. It had a slip-fit without the expanding capability to grip the inner diameter of the part.

Custom Northfield Model 450 Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck (0.0001” TIR)
Custom Northfield Model 450 Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck (0.0001” TIR)

Northfield Solution

Shown above is our Northfield Model 450 Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck (0.0001” TIR) with special ID-gripping Top Jaws. Additionally, an integral Axial Locator increases the speed of part change over and accurate part seating before starting the operation.

Result

This chucking arrangement solves their problem. It provides a reliable and repeatable method for them to grip their parts while accommodating the part’s tolerance variations.

 

If you have a similar custom project, reach out to our team. Contact Northfield

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8/24 Workholding for Electronic Vehicle Components – Ask me Anything

With Northfield CEO Paul de Feo and engineering team.

Sign-up here

This summer Northfield Precision in New York is launching as series of interactive webinars to discuss all things Workholding.

Join us on 08/24/2022 for our first event! 

to learn more about how workholding solutions can support EV component manufacturing that require high tolerances (.00005”) and high RPM (20,000rpm+), discuss emerging challenges and trends of EV component manufacturing, and answer any of your most pressing EV manufacturing questions.

8000rpm Diaphragm Chuck
8000rpm Diaphragm Chuck

Sign-up here

During this and future events we will openly share our expertise and industry knowledge to help you solve your current work holding problems. Be that electric vehicle applications, working with fine tolerances and delicate parts or learning how to scale your production capacity.

If you have any feedback or suggestions for this series please reach out to samuel@northfield.eu

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Northfield @ IMTS September 2022, Booth #432090

 

 

We are excited to be part of the International Manufacturing Technology Show 2022. Now live events are back in full swing it’s great to keep the momentum going.

Northfield Precision – Booth #432090

West Building, Level 3

IMTS the largest and longest-running industry trade show in the Western Hemisphere. Spread over 6 days, 2000+ exhibitors showcasing across 9 pavilions, with Keynotes and Industry Networking Sessions, IMTS 2022 looks set to be a fantastic event.

Northfield Team Exhibition Stand

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

If you would like to grab some time with an engineer at the show. Just hit contact and let us know you are coming.

Pressure Lok™

Northfield_Pressure_Lok_Chuck Northfield_Pressure_Lok_Chuck

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 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

Model Big Red Custom Chuck
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

 

You will find us in West Building, Level 3 —Booth #432090. We look forward to welcoming you.

 

If you would like to grab some time with an engineer at the show. Just hit contact to let us know you are coming.

 

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Vertical Workholding - Welding Torque Shells

Our customer welds torque converter shells.

Brief

The requirement is for a chuck to hold torque converter hubs while rotating them in a welding machine.

The challenge

is providing a completely sealed chuck to avoid damage from excess material and additionally one that can be vertically mounted whilst maintaining constant grip during the process.

Sealed Northfield Collet Chuck with Custom Top Tooling
Sealed Northfield Collet Chuck with Custom Top Tooling

To solve this

we customized a collet chuck by adding unique top tooling. As the chuck’s inner diameter collet expands, it also acts to pull the part down and onto the outer flange. This additionally serves repeatable locating onto the datum surface.

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High Precision Bores and Finish Grinding

Working for an international OEM supplier of the world’s most accurate precision rifle barrels. 

Brief: 

  1. Outer diameter clamping to grind bores in high precision bolt carriers for modern sport rifles.  
  2. Inner diameter clamping for finish grinding the outer diameter. 

Challenge: 

The two challenges are:

  1. Accommodating the extended part length
  2. Completing a second finish grinding step without damaging the first
Sport Rifle Bolt Carrier Grinding Group
Sport Rifle Bolt Carrier Grinding Group

Northfield Solution: 

The first operation involves grinding a bore to finish size. This bore houses the critical components that allow the firearm to function properly. 

We built a Northfield Model 620 Sliding Jaw Chuck with an extended air cylinder housing. This accommodates the long part length. The hardened and ground top jaws clamp on the rough outer diameter of the customer’s part.  

Custom Northfield 620 Air Chuck
Custom Northfield 620 Air Chuck

During loading, the part is set down on a hardened and ground axial locator, ensuring an accurate datum location each time.  

Secondly, this customer also requires work holding for finish grinding the outer diameter of the part. that they clamped on using the model 620 sliding jaw chuck in the first step.  

Custom Northfield Collet Chuck
Custom Northfield Collet Chuck

We achieved this with a custom internal grip collet chuck with a collet diameter of .5232in. This chuck clamps on the finished inner diameter while the other end is supported with a center. The operation grinds the whole outer diameter of the part, producing an accurate O.D. dimension. This ground diameter is one of the most critical dimensions required for the firearm to function reliably.  

 

Do you have a multi-step machining process that requires high precision work holding? Then get in touch.  

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Long Beach High School – Working Students

Working students continue to visit Northfield as part of our continued commitment to supporting the community. This June we attended a luncheon to celebrate the hard work and development of the students that have come to work at the Northfield offices over the past year.

Long Beach Lunch
David – Long Beach Student

I really enjoy the variety of tasks I’m given to work on and even having the opportunity of meeting Paul the CEO. I’m very grateful for the experience during the school year and I look forward to working at Northfield every Monday.”

David – Long Beach Student

The luncheon was to thank the sponsors who have invited students to visit their business’ each week during the school year. All the students and aides were in attendance to celebrate their achievements.

David did a great job taking charge of a variety of tasks. Including updating the saw log. We log when material is cut and then track it in the shop if we need to find it. A job very important to the whole team.

Additionally, David had the opportunity to assist our accounting manager Linda. Providing a great overview of the business and introduction to the working world.”

Charles – Northfield Sales