1/10000 T.I.R. Archives

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, Automotive

Northfield Model 620W Autolube Chuck (0.0001” TIR) with special top tooling

Brief

Our customer is a manufacturer of high precision pistons. They require a way to hold the irregular surface on the outer diameter of their ‘as-cast’ piston for turning the piston’s crown.

Solution

To meet this challenge, we came up with a set of Subjaws, permanently mounted to the chuck’s master jaws (T-shaped in the photo). These contain Changeable Serrated Insert Pads. The toothed serrations slightly bite into the part’s OD, allowing them to grip the piston very securely as they perform their first machining operation on this part.

Northfield Model 620W Autolube Chuck (0.0001” TIR) with special top tooling

Extra Features

The center of this chuck has a locating pad (not shown) secured with a screw. This locates the upper inside cavity of the piston for a repeatable stop surface.

This chuck is also an “Autolube” chuck, a setup that includes a remotely located oil reservoir tank and hardware. This facilitates a guaranteed way to keep the chuck automatically lubricated.

This feature can be added to almost all our chucks on request.

Do you have a unique part that requires a custom workholding solution? Then give us a call.

Contact Northfield – Northfield

in Air Chucks, Automotive, Balancing

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)

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