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Off-center Bores, Taking Center Stage.

Brief 

A precision manufacturer of aeronautic and aviation components needs to turn a bore that is off-center from the outer diameter of their part. 

The Challenge  

This operation needs to be performed on four different part sizes using the same chuck, whilst maintaining the tolerance to the existing ground ‘Datum’ on the part’s face. 

Solution 

Custom_Northfield_470W_Chuck
Custom Northfield 470W Chuck

Custom Northfield Precision Model 470WHS Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck (0.0001” TIR) with custom offset top tooling. 

The customer has four different offset parts that all need to be held with the same chuck. To accomplish the brief, we created four sets of quick-change stops and inserts. The different sets of inserts mount to hardened and ground sub jaws. This design offers accuracy and repeatability alongside quick change over times.

Custom ground sub jaw set
Custom ground jaw set

The hardened insert’s bores are ground off-center to compensate for the parts offset feature. The stops have quick change tapers to center the tooling during change overs. Within these changeable stops we also ‘time’ the part using locating pins. This ensures the proper offset orientation of the part.  

Additionally, the Model 470W chuck’s rotary union has 3 passages. One of these drives an air-driven ejector within the stop. This pushes the part out, against a separate stop component, to establish the accurate datum location.  

Custom Northfield 470W without Part
Custom Northfield 470W without Part
Custom Northfield 470W with Part
Custom Northfield 470W with Part

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you have a tricky part to machine? Contact us to see how we can help.  

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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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Northfield Pressure-LokTM Chucking System

Our recent product introduction, the Northfield Pressure-Lok TM Chucking System is an air chucking system that works without the air tubes and hoses. Video Below ⬇.

Northfield Pressure Lok Chuck
Northfield Pressure Lok Chuck

The Pressure-LokTM air chuck once charged with air pressure can hold pressure for up-to 3 weeks! Ideally implemented in machining operations that do not have access to a continuous supply of air.

The quick connect fitting is compatible with all Northfield chucks. The air pressure can be altered between 5 & 80 P.S.I. to adjust the grip force as required, improving the flexibility offered by spring clamping alone.

Northfield Pressure Lok Chuck
Our model 450 (3-Jaw) Air chuck with .0001 T.I.R.

Email sales@northfield.com to learn more.

Video
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Unusual shapes - Just business as usual for Northfield

Mascotech Sintered Components

Mascotech Sintered Components are the second largest powdered metal automotive parts maker in the world, and a valued Northfield Customer.

Sintering is not a new technology, but it can provide tremendous financial savings in parts processing.

  1. The process starts with metals in powdered forms. Several alloys are combined to create a new material with specific properties.
  2. Powdered metals are put into a mold then compressed, under several hundred tons of pressure, causing them to fuse.
  3. Finally, the piece is released from the mold, this is called the green state, put into an oven, and sintered.

The result is a strong, economically produced, near complete component.

In addition to doing the powdered metal work, Mascotech also performs roughing and finish machining on some of their parts. This is where Northfield comes in, supplying three unique custom solutions.

 

Transfer Case Component

For this automotive transmission component, Mascotech needs to finish the bore and cut two grooves. These hold a snap-ring and a wave spring.

The Challenge

Cutting the grooves with a forming tool develops up to 20 horsepower, meaning the part needs to be held very securely while the material is removed. However, the part has thin walls, making it difficult to grip without deforming it. Since all the machining operations will take place at the same time, maintaining roundness is critical.

Solution

We solved the problem by outfitting our standard 8″ Model 800 3-jaw chuck with custom full circle jaws that locate and grip the circumference of the part with a drive pin to pick up most of the torque.

 

Water Pump Component

Like many powdered metal parts, this water pump component comes out of sintering nearly complete, but still requires a final operation. In this case:  machining the bore, flange cutting the treads and tapping the holes.

To hold this part, Northfield provided one of our standard Model 670 2-jaw chucks fitted with custom jaws to grip the outside diameter of the part. Special orientation pins help locate the part for finish machining.

 

Crankshaft Sprocket

The final project is creating a family of sprocket gears. After sintering, the material has a particle hardness of 58/63 Rockwell “c” scale. Mascotech needed to hard turn the bore.

Challenge

The main challenge is the keyway between the gear teeth.  It makes one section of the work piece very thin and introduces an interrupted cut during machining of the bore.

Solution

Our solution employs a 4″ diaphragm chuck with six jaws to grip the major diameter of the gear teeth and three pads for axial banking. One of the jaws has a drive pin to insure no slippage while holding the part very gently.

Using our chuck, Mascotech is able to achieve a roundness specification of less than 0.0002 inch when machining the bore. Mascotech utilities Northfield work holding for over 80% of their turning applications at their Ridgway, PA facility.

Northfield Precision Instrument Corp.: Northfield is a custom work holding solutions company based in Island Park, New York.