Tag: custom

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No need to regrind - Long Lasting Custom Jaws

Our customer is a precision manufacturer of engine and fuel injection systems. 

The Challenge 

is to solve the problem of extreme wear on the grip area on the jaws. Northfield Chucks can be customized with a variety of top tooling options. Here is one of our standard 4” sliding-jaw chucks (Northfield Model 450). Especially modified for our customer.  

Custom Carbide Chuck Jaws
Custom Carbide Chuck Jaws

Solution

To solve this, we developed a custom set of jaws containing brazed carbide for the grip lands of the jaws. The result, the jaws last approximately 3 times as long, before requiring a regrind.  

Could this kind of modification to a standard work holding chuck help you solve a problem?  

Then get in touch with the team.  

Contact Northfield – Northfield 

Or call: (516) 431-1112 

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Autonomous Automotive Inspection Workholding

This project is for a longstanding customer who produces: precision machines, tools, and rotary tables. The brief requires gripping the inner diameters of continuously variable transmission (CVT) sheaves for runout inspection.  

The Challenge 

The work holding challenge is to create a chuck for auto-loading in an autonomous machining environment. We are their preferred supplier for custom and high precision projects and therefore need to deliver our trademark accuracy and repeatability. 

Solution: How did we deliver? 

Positioning the part by robotic arm requires every custom feature ensures proper seating before the machining operation begins.

Runout_Inspection_Chuck_Drawing_Northfield_Proprietary
Runout Inspection Chuck Drawing – Northfield Proprietary
Runout_Inspection_Chuck_Northfield_Proprietary
Custom Northfield Precision Model 625 Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck (0.0001” TIR) with special top tooling
  1. The custom top-jaws are permanently mounted onto the chuck’s master-jaws. This grips the inner diameter of the sheave’s central bore. 
  2. The 3 air holes in the top surface of each custom jaw are an air-detect Axial Locator.
  3. The jaws are also ground at mid-stroke of the chuck, providing a large part-load clearance.

Finally, analysing all critical surfaces that interface with the part, this work holding chuck delivers the trademark Northfield accuracy of of .0001” TIR and repeatability. 

Our innovation and relationship building is what sets us apart from the competition. Do you have a high precision challenge? Contact us to see how the Northfield team can solve it.  

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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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Skim Cutting Titanium

Our customer builds and supplies complete machine tooling solutions. They are working with the Northfield engineers to develop a skim cutting solution for multiple sized parts.

Brief & Challenge 

The workpieces are a range of titanium parts that require skim cutting, some need to be held by the outer diameter and some on the inner diameter. The main challenge is achieving this with a single chuck.  

Solution 

Titanium_Grinding_Custom_Tooling
Northfield Precision Model 650 Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck

To meet this challenge, we provided a Northfield Precision Model 650 Sliding-Jaw Air Chuck (0.0001” TIR) with interchangeable and custom top tooling. 

The jaws are Rockwell 60 tested therefore allowing for future regrinds and as a result increasing the jaws longevity.

This chucking setup is capable of .0001” TIR total accuracy and repeatability on all critical surfaces, those which touch the parts. 

Give the engineering team a call to discuss any work holding challenges you have and learn how Northfield can support you. Phone: +1 (516) 431-1112 

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The Top Brass – Custom Brass Top Tooling

Brief

A CNC and process automation customer required custom work holding solution for Grinding the outer diameter of their unique sapphire rods.  

Challenge

The main challenge for the Northfield team is holding the rods well enough without damaging them or creating micro fractures in the material. Additionally, delivering the trademark repeatability and accuracy. 

Custom Workholding Total Indicator Reading
Brass Work Holding – Total Indicator Reading

Solution

The work holding solution is a Northfield model DPH-400, with custom Brass Work Holding Jaws. The top tooling consists of three parts.  

  1. Hardened and ground sub jaws  
  2. A separate center button stop 
  3. Precision ground brass inserts mounted to the sub jaws 

This setup ensures accuracy and repeatability whilst grinding the outer diameter to the required size. 

Custom Brass Jaws Chuck
Custom Brass Jaws Chuck

The use of brass answers the customers need to hold their unique sapphire rod without damaging it. Brass chuck jaws prevent sliding and are very corrosion resistance, meaning there are also tough enough to operate in a grinding environment. 

 

Do you work with delicate or uncommon material? Get in touch and see how Northfield can support you. 

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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.