Blog

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Straight to the Point – Precision Drill Tip Manufacturing

Brief: 

This project is for an international metal cutting solutions provider. They required custom jaws that can hold various sized drill tips.  

The Challenge: 

The work holding jaws all need to have ‘vee-block’ type insert-pads to securely hold a variety of square parts with our trademark accuracy. 

Custom_Square_Drill_Bit_Tooling
Model 870 Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck (.0001 TIR) with custom ‘square’ top tooling.

Solution: 

Introducing our Model 870 Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck (.0001 TIR). This air-actuated chuck has two moving jaws for gripping the square or rectangular parts. 

The drill tips stop on the axial locator (mounted to the face of the chuck), and the Insert Pads (mounted in their sub jaws) clamp down on the outer diameter of each drill tip before grinding its shank. 

Extra Feature:

The Insert-Pad and Sub-Jaw design to allows for quick changeover between sizes. 

Does this sound like a familiar situation? Then give us a call (516) 431-1112 or fill out the form.

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5-Axis Machining in Two Steps

High precision custom work holding, finishing all part machining operations in only two setups. Reducing error and saving time. 

Brief:

Our Customer is a well-established high precision machine and automation provider. They required a custom solution to complete all machining operation in two steps.  

  1. Work holding on a rotary table within a 5-axis machine.  
  2. A chuck with custom hardened jaws to grip the finished side of the work piece from the first step. 

Read on to see how the Northfield engineers solved this problem… 

Custom Air Chuck 5-Axis Machining
Northfield Precision Model 450W Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck (0.0001” TIR) with custom top tooling attached.

Northfield Precision Model 450W Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck (0.0001” TIR) with special top tooling attached
Northfield Precision Model 450W Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck (0.0001” TIR) with custom top tooling attached

The first chuck is based on the 450W Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck, for mounting to a rotary table for 5 axis machining of the first portion of the final product. 

The custom top jaws are hardened and ground to size before coating with 150. Grit diamond. This ensures a good grip on the customers rough turned blank. 

Additionally,  

Northfield work holding solutions include air detect axial locators. This in this case, 3 air ports on the 3-part banking surfaces. Ensuring positive, part seat confirmation before the machining process begins. 

Step 2:

Northfield Precision Model 470W Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck (0.0001” TIR) with custom top tooling attached.
Northfield Precision Model 470W Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck (0.0001” TIR) with custom top tooling attached.

Northfield Precision Model 470W Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck (0.0001” TIR) with custom top tooling attached.
Northfield Precision Model 470W Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck (0.0001” TIR) with custom top tooling attached.

The second stage of the process involves gripping the finished side of the part from the first step without damaging, to finish the second step.  

To accomplish this, we added custom hardened and ground sub jaws to a Model 470W Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck. These hold specially Electro Discharge Machined (EDM) inserts, designed to grip the finished side of the part produced in first machining operation. Additional machine clearance was required at this stage, so the chucks are also mounted to custom Vertical base plate risers. This accommodates for the machine clearances. 

Finally, this chuck also includes a special air detect axial locator, with 1 air port on the part banking surface, for positive part seat confirmation.  

 

Are you looking for a custom work holding solution that includes a collaborative design process? Then get in touch today and discuss your projects with the Northfield engineering team.  

 

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Internally Gripping - Automotive Drilling

Custom automotive drilling work holding A drilling solution custom designed for the automotive industry. Based on hydraulically actuated, internal grip collet chucks.

Eight of these chucks mount on a pallet in a vertical machining centre, gripping automotive parts for drilling. The chucks are 76mm in diameter but deliver up to 544 kg. of draw force.

Custom automotive drilling work holding

Northfield Collet Chucks repeat to 1/10,000 T.I.R and pull the part onto the centre hard stop.

Does this sound like something that you would be interested in? Get in touch to discuss your next project with Northfield.

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Plastic Tooling - Ceramic Grinding

Brief & Challenge:

Our customer manufactures delicate ceramic rings. They need a way to carefully hold them on the outer diameter so they can grind the inner diameter. To protect the parts, they requested no metal contact points.

Custom_Ceramic_Grinding_Chuck

Solution:

We produced a 6” Diaphragm Chuck with non-metallic top tooling in contact with the customer’s part. The top tooling is made from the most abrasion-resistant plastic available and these items are easily replaceable for new ones should a future need arise.

Northfield Precision Instrument Corporation is a leader in developing custom solutions for difficult problems. Click here to get in touch.

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Internal Spline C.V. Chucks

Recently at Northfield we produced a custom internal grip collet chuck for balancing drive shafts.

Custom_Internal_Grip_Collet_Chuck

 

 

 

The collet on this chuck grips the pitch diameter of splined C.V. joints of a driveshaft assembly.

 

 

 

Internal_Grip_Collet_Chuck_Disassembled

 

 

  • The ‘cone’ has multiple stop pads for axial location.
  • Tapped holes balance the chuck assembly prior to production.
  • The chuck repeats to less than 0.005mm total indicator reading (T.I.R.).

 

Northfield is the world’s premier manufacturer of ultra-precision balance chucks for prop shafts, with chucks that weigh less than half of our competitors. We are also the only chuck supplier recommended by major balance manufacturers.

Northfield Balancing Chucks Feature

  • Highest accuracy
  • Highest RPM
  • Shortest hung mass
  • Fastest & most accurate change over

Interested to know more? Reach out…

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Custom Parts, Custom Colors

No, we’re not making a fashion statement for chucks here!

At Northfield, we affectionately refer to the aluminium anodized chuck as “BIG RED”. Creed Monarch use “BIG RED” to manufacture close tolerance parts for Robert Bosch Power Tools.

We designed “BIG RED” to accommodate the unusual shape of the ‘Wobble Plate’ part of the drive mechanism in a Bosch reciprocating saw. Improving accuracy and dramatically reducing change over time.

Northfield custom work holding, model 'big red'
Northfield custom work holding, model ‘big red’

The “Wobble Plate” is made from 52100 tool steel and heat-treated to 58/63 Rockwell. Spinning at 3,500 rpm for hard turning the “Wobble Plate” internal diameter, creates the outer race of a bearing set.

“BIG RED” is a example of our custom work holding at Northfield beyond the chuck.

  • The spring-loaded plunger and locator ensure accurate locating of the “Wobble Plate” to four specific reference points.
  • When hand mounted on the face of a fixture, the unique design provide repeatability of 0.002 inches.
  • The fixture allows automatic operation after the initial loading.

“BIG RED” solved previous holding problems and saves a tremendous amount of production time.

Do you have a special work holding need that we could help with? Get in touch now.