News And Updates

If you are already pushing your machining centre to its maximum limits and the work is still queuing up, workholding specialist Leader Chuck Systems has a cost-effective alternative to the capital outlay required to purchase another machine. The IRAM 2000 Module System patented modular vices for vertical and horizontal machining centres.
 

Part of IRAM’s range of modular vices, the Module Cube 2000 for horizontal machining centres and the Module Vertical Vice 2000 for vertical machining centres are among the most flexible available. The systems are precision manufactured from high-grade Swedish steel that is polished and hardened to 60 HRc.

Managing director, Mark Jones, explains the benefits of this flexible workholding solution. “Many hours of lost production time on any CNC machining centre can be attributed to the loading and unloading of raw material and finished parts. Using the IRAM modular system increases the density of the raw material on the work table or pallet, so that the tool spends more time cutting and less time waiting for material. This improves productivity levels dramatically for a very small investment,” he says.

The Vertical Vice range is available in various lengths from 284 mm up to 809 mm, to suit the axis travels of the machine tool. The vices have a fixed width of 180 mm, which allows several to be located in parallel on the worktable. This increases the flexibility of the workholding as smaller parts can be held in one vice while longer components can straddle two or more vices, providing both the rigidity and cutting tool access required.

Adapted for pallet mounting, the Cube range stacks raw material on each face of the cube to maximise the productive benefits of any 4-axis horizontal machining centre. With a fixed length and width of 206 mm various heights, from 240 mm up to 985 mm, can be specified to suit the machine tool’s working envelope.

Both the Vertical Vice and Cube feature fixed and movable jaws which allows two components to be clamped in a single action. Providing precision datum points for easier programming, the fixed jaws have a repeatable accuracy of +/- 0.02 mm and a maximum holding force of 20,000 N can be achieved to secure the parts.

Mark Jones concludes: “With shorter, less frequent set up times and fewer tool and pallet changes, the investment required to implement the IRAM 2000 Module System is very quickly repaid. Most customers using this range have achieved a return on investment (ROI) in a matter of months, with continued use providing measurable cost saving benefits.”