High Tech Industrial Representation, Inc.
  • Home
    • Products
      • AB Tools
      • AKS Teknik
      • Balax
      • Jergens
      • Kyocera Precision
      • SGS Precision Tools
      • K-Tool
      • Masa Tool
      • Techniks Tool Group
  • About
  • Journal
  • Services
  • Promotions
  • Contact
  • Home
    • Products
      • AB Tools
      • AKS Teknik
      • Balax
      • Jergens
      • Kyocera Precision
      • SGS Precision Tools
      • K-Tool
      • Masa Tool
      • Techniks Tool Group
  • About
  • Journal
  • Services
  • Promotions
  • Contact
Search

Improving Small Medical Part Manufacturing

6/14/2022

0 Comments

 
​To avoid crushing and ruining parts, Swiss precision manufacturer Micro-Matics turned to Masa Tool’s Microconic collet and cartridge system.
by  Bernard Martin & Elizabeth Engler Modic,  Today's Medical Developments  May 2022
Micro-Matics
Micro-Matics employees outside the facility. All photos courtesy of Micro-Matics
Since 1973, Micro-Matics of Fridley, MN, has been manufacturing CNC Swiss precision screw machine products including many kinds of contacts & pins, ground shafts, hardened bushings, rivets, screws, spacers and other custom parts for the medical, dental, aerospace, commercial, defense, computer, telecommunications and automotive industries.

According to Jason Wobig, Operations Manager, "Micro-Matics is primarily an aerospace and medical components, Swiss machining job shop. We make components that are thousandths of an inch up to an 1-1/4" in diameter. We started out with the old manual style, Cam driven Swiss machines and we're one of the largest Escomatic shops in the Midwest.  And as the company's grown and evolved, we've turned into Swiss job shop, mostly Citizen machines like the M16,  a L12, and a M32, as well as a few Star and Tsugami machines that give us a wide variety of capabilities."

Medical part challenges

A while back Micro-Matics was running a small medical part, a catheter part, that they were struggling with.  

They had some custom collets made for pickoff and, according to Dave Thayer, Department Manager,

"It was a constant struggle. This particular catheter part has very thin walls, it got crushed  with a standard M16 collet system because you have very little accuracy in how much tension you're putting on your collet.  If you put too much force on it, my parts started turning to collapse into triangles. If you don't have enough tension on it, the part pushes back into the pickoff and you get varying part lengths and varying chamfer diameters. The parts would be out round and they wouldn't be on-center."

​Wobig had heard about Masa Tool's Microconic™ sytems through Todd Pakiz, President of High Tech Representation Inc., New Prague, Minnesota. "Todd had told me about this system a couple years back. And we had been struggling with these parts. So I reached out to Todd and see if he's still selling that system."
Dave Thayer, department manager at Micro-Matics
Dave Thayer, department manager at Micro-Matics standing in front of one of the many Citizen Swiss-type lathes the company has.
High Tech Industrial Representation, Inc, or "High Tech"  is a manufacturer's representative agency managing the territories of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, as well as Iowa & Nebraska. They represent industrial manufacturers whose products are focused on the machining industry and provide a high level of technical sales support. Todd brought in Masa's F20M10 Cartidge and the specific off-the-shelf Micorconic collet for the catheter part.
Masa Tools’ Microconic used on a Citizen Swiss-type lathe at Micro-Matics
Masa Tools’ Microconic used on a Citizen Swiss-type lathe at Micro-Matics
Wobig continues, "I wanted to try this system for the catheter part which is a small thin-walled part approximately 0.040" in diameter and another 0.040" in length and with a wall thickness of 0.010". 

​So I wanted something that wasn't crushing the part. It was really hard to adjust the machines pickoff spindle itself to any degree of accuracy without crushing a part."

What Wobig found with the Masa Microconic system  was that they could set up the clamping with a gage pin and set the clamping tension with the Micrograd™ Dial Wrench which has little indicators to set an actual tension. 
The Micrograd wrench allows you to set your collet clamping force so even the most fragile parts can be held safely and firmly according to Matt Saccomanno, CEO of Masa Tool.

Cartridge and collet solution

In 1996, Matt Saccomanno, CEO of Masa Tool, was frustrated with the limitations of conventional collets and workholding systems when performing secondary machining operations so his solution was to develop a high-precision, collet-type workholding device for small parts machining.

The Microconic system consists of a cartridge and collet, with the cartridge fitting in the machine just like a standard legacy collet. The cartridge is a self-contained precision mechanism using the machine’s standard collet closing function, which means that the Microconic system can be used on any machine utilizing 5C, TF20, TF25 or TF37 collets. 

According to Saccomanno "Since a collet system for any given machine must be made large enough to fit the maximum workpiece diameter capacity of the machine, the result is the standard collet mechanism is designed to handle the largest workpieces, which means it is excessively forceful and bulky when used for the smaller workpieces. Smaller parts get sacrificed, because they typically require a higher degree of accuracy and the workholding is more critical."

The Microconic system consists of the cartridge, which fits into your machine like a standard collet, and the Microconic collets which fit into Masa's unique cartridge.  Every Microconic cartridge comes standard with extended nose for unsurpassed rigidity because of it's single piece construction.

"In fact, the cartridge is so accurate that it can be used as a gauge to verify machine spindle accuracy," said Pakiz.

Thayer explained how the Microconic system has worked for Micro-Matics "With the Masa system we're able to dial in a nice specific tension to hold that catheter part without crushing it or deforming it at all and having it on center.  In a nutshell, we get better quality parts consistently with tighter tolerances. It's lead to a really significant improvement, it's increased throughput, so we have more parts at the end of the day."

"As a result of the implementation, the scrap rate on this part dropped dramatically once we added the new Masa system by at least 30%." added Wobig. 

According to Masa Tool, the Microconic cartridge  concentricity is guaranteed to be within 5µm (.0002") runnout and the collets are hardened and precision ground to the highest quality standards. The regular, UM10,  10mm collets, that  Micro-Matics is using in their F20M10 Cartidge are available from Ø0.2mm (.008") to 10mm (.394").  In additon to the TF 20 spindles, the same collets can be used in TF25, TF37 and 5C sub spindles.

Applying technology to other applications

micro-matics-f20m10-cartridege-todays-medical-developments
According to David Thayer at Micro-Matics, ""The extended nose pieces on the Microconic cartridge helps on the catheter tips because you can get closer up to where I actually have a supporting back end." Masa Tool's Microconic Cartidge is designed with an extended nose. Photo Courtesy Micro-Matics
As time has gone on Masa's Microconic system has propagated to other machines and other jobs.

​Micro-Matics has been running one of the collets for a couple of months straight now on a distal coupler.

Thayer explains,  "The distal coupler part has a unique shape. It's not perfectly round. It has some small flats milled on either side of the part. It's like a cylindrical pill, like a capsule except with two sides of the long length milled in so there's flats on it.  The part is 0.080" in length 0.040" in a cylindrical diameter. We then mill the cylindrical diameter 180 degrees from each other to a thickness of 0.030", so you're taking 0.10" off then drilling and centering two holes on each end of that through the flats."

​"Our customer is extremely concerned about any collet indication marks or chip marks on the outside of that cylindrical diameter. The previous collets we were using were custom made collets that actually had the profile of the part basically machined into it" says Wobig.
Thayer picks it up, "It was a straight cylinder round collet it but it was split in half so it was like two halves of a collet so we were trying to keep the flats in the spaces and then the round cylinder on the collet part that's round. The holding portion it would move and we didn't have them pinned at all. And then we had the same issue as on the catheter part:  If you squeeze it too tight you're starting to push the diameter into the flat so it would deform the OD into the flat and make deformed flats.  If you squeezed it too hard, it would make the flat bump up.  If it didn't sit perfectly right in the custom collet you'd have the split marks of the collet that start interfering with the transition between the flat to the diameter and it would make lines on the diameter."  
So what happened when they started using the Microconic system?   "It fixed all that!" said Thayer.

Remedying the issues

"With the Microconic system, we didn't need to buy any special collets for any specific profile, we just got the actual diameter for the OD of the part and we're running it with that. The spaces in between on that collet is small enough that it's not distorting the round to flat portion if it even gets into there at all. So there's no timing issues at set-up. We just put it in there, set our tension, and start picking them off." added Wobig

Thayer continued "The extended nose pieces on the Microconic cartridge helps on the catheter tips because  you can get closer up to where I actually have a supporting back end.   Because if I'm too far away from that supporting back and you have more of a tendency to crush the front of that part. The Microconic gives me a better tension on the part.  On the distal coupler, we have to use a boring bar, or a facing tool to create the back face, which is round. We'd have a lot of trouble trying to hold without nibs or anything on there. And this holds it so that the part stays a little more square, and we're able to turn it better."

When dealing with very small parts and setting with small gage pins, accidents do sometimes happen.  "The only problem I've had with it was when somebody was trying to set the collet tension with a pin. They put the pin into the slot and not the hole and wrecked the collet. Because the pin was able to fit inside the slot so when they started tightening it up, and the pins started deforming the collet was wrecked because it wasn't in the hole in the center." said Thayer.

Masa has indicated that they will release a new TF 15 and TF16 Cartridge with an entire series of smaller 5mm capacity collets at IMTS 2022.

Specifications

Over-grip 10mm collets from 0.5mm to 7.2mm diameter (0.020" to 0.283") open to 4mm (0.157") diameter larger than the clamping diameter. Some restrictions apply to larger sizes approaching the 7.2mm (0.283") max diameter.

Microconic over-grip collets have unmatched rigidity and concentricity compared to other manufacturers. The same collets can be used in TF20, TF25, and 5C sub spindles. Microconic collets permit interchangeability between machines, and the collets fit in any Microconic cartridge, no matter which collet system is in the machine.
0 Comments

Don't Take Your Retention Knobs for Granted

2/24/2021

0 Comments

 
by Bernard Martin
Retention Knobs are the critical connection between your machine tool and the tool holder and they are the only thing holding a steep taper tool holder in the machine’s spindle.
Retention knob pull stud casues of failure
​Techniks has recently introduced their MegaFORCE retention knobs that have some rather unique features when compared to standard pull studs.  

​Before delving into the features of the MegaFORCE pull studs, let's review some things that you may not know, or think about, on a daily basis. 


Retention knobs go through thousands of tool changes which means that they are subjected to the very high pulling forces from the spindle’s drawbar.

This force can be up to 2300 ft. lbs. for 40 taper toolholders and up to 5000 ft. lbs. for 50 taper toolholders. According to Haas, you should expect a service life of about 6000-8000 hours for a retention knob.  

​Most all rotary toolholder manufacturers state that you should be replacing your pull studs at least every three years.
However, if you're running multiple shifts, 24-7, making lots of tool changes, making very heavy cuts with long reach or heavy cutting tools, and/or have ball lock style grippers instead of collet type grippers used on the retention knob, you will probably need to replace your studs at least every six months.

Given the spindle speeds that we are running at to remain competitive, retention knobs are not an item that you want to take a chance on breaking.  I can tell you firsthand that 5 pound toolholder with a drill in it flying out of the spindle at 23,000 RPM is not something you want to experience. ​

Metal Fatigue: Why Pull Studs Fail

Pull studs encounter catastrophic failure as a result of metal fatigue. The metal fatigue can be caused by a number of reasons including poor choice of base material, engineering design, machining process, poor heat treatment, and, sometimes, they have just met or exceeded their service life. We're going to dig into each of these reasons below but first let's look at some threading fundamentals.
The threads on your retention knob will stretch slightly when load is applied and the loading borne on each thread is different. When you apply a tensile load on a threaded pull stud, the first thread at the point of connection sees the highest percentage of the load.

The load on each subsequent thread decreases from there, as show in the table. Any threads beyond the first six are purely cosmetic and provide no mechanical advantage. 
Percentage of Load on a Retention Knob Thread
Percentage of Load on each thread of a Retention Knob.
Additional threads beyond the sixth thread will not further distribute the load and will not make the connection any stronger. 

That is why the length of engagement of the thread on a pull stud is generally limited to approximately one to one & a half nominal diameter. After that, there is no appreciable increase in strength. Once the applied load has exceeded the first thread's capacity, it will fail and subsequently cause the remaining threads to fail in succession.

Retention Knob Design

Repetitive cycles of loading and unloading subject the retention knob to stress that can cause fatigue and cracking at weak areas of the pull stud.
What are the weak areas of a standard retention knob?  

​For the same reason we put corner radiuses on end mills, sharp corners are a common area of failure for any mechanical device.

​The same holds true with your pull studs:  The sharp angles on the head of the retention knob and at the minor diameter of the threads are common locations of catastrophic material failure.
The most common failure point for a retention knob is at the top of the first thread and the underside of the pull stud where the grippers or ball bearings of the drawbar engage and draw the toolholder into the spindle.

Remember, bigger Radii are stronger than sharp corners. ​More on that soon.
Retention Knob Metal Fatigue
These are the two weakest points of any retention knob.
Styles of Retention Knob for Rotary Toolholder
Styles of MegaForce Retention Knobs

Material

Not all retention knobs are made from the same material, however, material alone does not make for a superior retention knob. Careful attention to design and manufacturing methods must be followed to avoid introducing potential areas of failure.

​Techniks MegaFORCE retention knobs are made from 8620H. AISI 8620 is a hardenable chromium, molybdenum, nickel low alloy steel often used for carburizing to develop a case-hardened part. This case-hardening will result in good wear characteristics.  8620 has high hardenability, no tempering brittleness, good weldability, little tendency to form a cold crack, good maintainability, and cold strain plasticity.

There are some companies making retention knobs from 9310. The main difference is the lower carbon content in the 9310. 9310 has a tad more Chromium, while 8620 has a tad more nickel.  Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) is the force at which a material will break. The UTS of 8620H is 650 Mpa (megapascals: a measure of force). The UTS of 9310H is 820 Mpa. So, 9310H does have a UTS that is 26% greater than 8620H.

​That said, ​Techniks chose 8620 as their material of choice because of the higher nickel content.  Nickel tends to work harden more readily and age harden over time which brings the core hardness higher as the pull stud gets older. The work hardening property of 8620 makes it ideally suited for cold forming of threads on the MegaFORCE retention knobs.

​It should be noted that some companies are using H13. H13 shares 93% of their average alloy composition in common with 9310. 
5. Cut thread vs rolled thread retention knob
A cut thread, image 1, has a higher coefficient of friction due the the cutting process, while a roll formed thread, image 2, has a lower coefficient of friction which means that it engages deeper into the toolholder bore when subjected to the same torque. You will notice that Cutting threads tears at the material and creates small fractures that become points of weakness that can lead to failure. Rolled threads have burnished roots and crests that are smooth and absent of the fractures common in cut threads.

​Rolled Threads vs. Cut Threads

Rolled threads produce a radiused root and crest of the thread and exhibit between a​ 40% and 300% increase in tensile strength over a cut thread. The Techniks MegaFORCE retention knobs feature rolled threads that improve the strength of the knob by 40%.  
LMT Fette - Thread rolling with F2 Rolling head on CNC lathe
Fette F2 Thread Rolling Head
In cold forming, the thread rolls are pressed into the component, stressing the material beyond its yield point. This causes the component material to be deformed plastically, and thus, permanently.

There are three rollers in the typical thread rolling head that maintain better concentricity by default than single point cutting of the threads.

​Also, unlike thread cutting, the grain structure of the material is displaced not removed.

Shown here is a Fette F2 head cold forming a thread. Note how the three roller forms center and maintain near perfect concentricity of the pull stud shaft.


​Rolled threads produce grain flows that follow the contour of the threads making for a stronger thread at the pitch diameter which is the highest point of wear. 

The cold forming process also cold works the material which takes advantage of the nickel work hardening properties of 8620.
By comparison, cut threads interrupt the grain flow creating weak points.
MegaForce Retention Knob features
Photo courtesy Mike Roden at Fette Tool. www.turningconcepts.com

MegaFORCE Geometric Design Features

Picture
Features of Techniks MegaFORCE Retention Knobs
Overall Length
There are some claims that a longer projection engages threads deeper in the tool holder preventing taper swelling. While a deeper thread engagement can help prevent taper swelling, applying proper torque to the retention knob is an effective way to reduce taper swelling.

An over-tightened retention knob may still cause taper swelling regardless of how deep it engages the threads of the tool holder. Additionally, the longer undercut section above the threads presents a weak point in the retention knob.
Blended Radii
With the new MegaFORCE pull studs, stress risers of sharp angles have been eliminated through the blended radii on the neck where the gripper engages under the head of the pull stud.  

Ground Pilot
There is a ground pilot, underneath the flange, which provides greater stability. The pilot means the center line of the tool holder and pull stud are perfectly aligned.
Magnetic Particle Tested
Each MegaFORCE retention knob is magnetic particle tested to ensure material integrity and physical soundness. MegaFORCE retention knobs are tested at 2.5X the pulling forces of the drawbar.
​
Picture
MegaFORCE Technical Specifications
  • Material: SAE8620
  • All knobs are case carbrized, hardened, and tempered to:
    • Case depth: 0.025” – 0.030”
    • Surface hardness: HRc 56-60
    • Core hardness: HRc 44 minimum
Torque Specs
The following are the guidelines for torquing your pull studs according to Techniks.
  • BT 30 36 ft. lbs.
  • ISO 30 - 36 ft. lbs.
  • 40 taper - 76 ft. lbs.
  • 50 Taper - 100 ft. lbs.

​Retention Knob Best Practices

In order to maximize the life of your retention knob and prevent catastrophic failure here are some technical tips to keep your shop productive and safe.
  • Regularly inspect retention knobs for signs of wear. Wear may appear as dimples or grooves under the head or visible corrosion anywhere on the retention knob. 

  • If the retention knob demonstrates any signs of wear replace it immediately. ​
​
  • Make sure to properly torque the retention knob to the manufacturer’s specifications. Use a torque wrench and retention knob adapter to ensure proper torque. 
Broken Pull Stud
  •  Overtightening can overly stress the retention knob leading to premature failure and can cause the tool holder taper to swell leading to a poor fit between the machine spindle and the tool holder.
​
  • Apply a light coat of grease to the retention knob MONTHLY to lubricate the drawbar. If you use through-spindle coolant (TSC), apply grease to the retention knobs WEEKLY.

Indication Marks on Pull Studs ​is NOT Normal

Damaged Retention Knob
Damaged Retention Knob. photo courtesy Haas Automation. Click photo for original content.
There have been some who claim that drawbar gripper fingers and/or ball marks that appear on retention knob head after several tool changes is normal.

It is NOT.  THAT IS FALSE. 

According to Haas CNC, ball or gripper marks on the edge of the pull stud indicate that the drawbar does not open completely.

​If you see these indication marks you should check your drawbar and replace these pull studs immediately.

Special thanks for Greg Webb at Techniks and Mike Roden from Fette Tools/ Turning Concepts, for providing technical insights. ​
0 Comments

Custom Workholding Fixture made by Martin Trunnion using Jergens Quick Change Ball Locks

2/24/2020

0 Comments

 
Custom Workholding designed by Martin Trunnion Tables uses Jergen Ball Lock for a Custom Workholding solution made for TImken
A custom workholding solution made by Martin Trunnion Tables utilizing Jergen Ball Locks for Timken
This is a custom Stallion fixture with a 9/23 Quick Change made by Martin Trunnion Tables. 

The product was made for Timken, a company out of British Columbia, Canada. Using Jergens Inc. Ball locks, the quick change option allows our customers to change setups quickly (within 60 seconds) and repeatably.  The ball lock receiver bushing are mounted into 4 corners of the surface of the Stallion Trunnion Table. A 1" steel sub-plate, with hardened locater bushings in two of these corners, will act as the working surface. 

The sub-plate also includes a 2 inch grid pattern; this feature provides our customers with flexibility, as they are now able to mount virtually any vise or other workholding product onto their Stallion Trunnion Table. The trunnion is made from a one piece casting and is guaranteed flat and square within .001" over the entire surface. 
0 Comments

High Tech now offers 3D Printing for your Tooling and Workholding Ideas

9/12/2019

0 Comments

 
Fusion 3D F410 specs
Did you know that we now have a two 3D printers to help you develop custom tooling solutions?

Some time ago we purchased a 3D Printer with a 8" x 8" x 7" Inches (200 x 200 x 180 mm) build area. We discovered it was great for making things for open houses and demo kits. 

But then we discovered that we could provide our customers with with tooling and workholding concepts so we upgraded and now make up to a maximum build volume of 1.38 cubic feet!!  That;s a max build size of 14” x 14” x 12.4” (355 x 355 x 315mm)!

We are started out using our 3D printers to produce working parts for customer applications as well as trade show tool display stands.

Now we are using these both our Wanhao Duplicator 6 Plus and our new Fusion 3D F410 printers to help our customers with visualization and verification of workholding ideas, tool holding clearances as well as many other applications.
If you're interested in working on some ideas with us, just fill out the 3D Printing Request Form
0 Comments

The Z-Carb HTA Produced 4 Times as many Parts Per New Tool as the Competitor’s Tool in 4140 35-40R/C.

4/1/2019

0 Comments

 
GOALS
The goals of this study were to
significantly reduce job cost through increasing tool life and maximizing operating efficiencies
STRATEGY
The Z
-Carb HTA features an enhanced high helix design and enhanced core to meet the demands of machining high-temperature alloys.

The patented unequal helix design
changes the angle at which each cutting edge enters the material, and unequal flute spacing helps disrupt the rhythmic pattern created by the cutting edge.
Picture
The Z-CARB HTA. Designed for High Temp Alloys
Z Carb High Temp Alloy Test Results
In this case, the Z-Carb HTA outperformed the competition by every single statistical measure.
The HTA was a
ble to handle a 12% increase in speed.
Easily took
on a feed rate double what the competitor’s tool could handle.

With th
ese increased efficiencies, the material removal rate was doubled!
RESULTS

Thequality of tool and the substrate coating played a role in increasing the tool life.

The customer needed to produce 5,000 parts and because the HTA produced 4 times as many parts per new tool as the competition, it only required 42 total new tools to complete the job. The competitor had to use 167.

The
customer, because of the smaller amount of HTA’s needed saved over $13,000 in new tool cost.

When you combine that number with the over $
14,000 saved in machining cost (because of the increased efficiency mentioned earlier) the customer saved a grand total of $28,153.70!
Picture
Z Carb HTA Performance 35 40 Rc
Z Carb HTA Performance 35-40 Rc
0 Comments

Seven Major Advantages of Thread Forming vs Thread Cutting Taps

3/13/2019

0 Comments

 
Forming taps displace metal — cutting taps remove it.
Balax “BALanced AXially
BALAX stands for “BALanced AXially,” which is an important feature for all of our Thredfloer Cold Forming Taps. Balax Thredfloers are ground using our proprietary thread grinders that have a differential lead compensation device that produces cold forming taps with their lead crests exactly on pitch.

Other forming taps have lead thread cold forming teeth that are not ground on pitch. These forming taps actually cold-work the thread twice:
  1. To form the in-accurate lead thread and
  2. To move it on pitch.
This creates an axial thrust on the tap which increases tapping torque and reduces tap life.

Balax Thredfloers form the thread exactly on pitch the first time with no axial thrust, hence the name “BALanced AXially”. All Thredfloers require less tapping torque and provide longer tap life than forming taps ground with conventional methods.
lax Thredfloers Form Taps vs Cut Taps
Forming taps and cutting taps produce threads that gage identically and are interchangeable, but the similarity stops there. The way they produce threads is completely different:

  1. Chipless Tapping - Since the thread is formed and not cut, there are no chips to interfere with the tapping process or to cause chip-removal problems in blind holes.
  2. Stronger Threads - The grain flow of formed threads follows the contour of the thread resulting in greater thread strength. This is especially true for materials that work-harden such as steel and stainless steel.
  3. Better Thread Gaging - Forming taps rearrange the metal in the hole to create the thread. Because no metal is cut away, the possibility of producing oversized threads is greatly reduc
  4. Stronger Tap -  The absence of chips eliminates the need for flutes, resulting in a solid, stronger tap.
  5. Longer Tap Life - Forming taps last 3 to 20 times longer than cutting taps because they have no cutting edge to dull.
  6. More Efficient Production - Longer tap life, less tap breakage, and faster tapping speeds combine to reduce cycle time and machine downtime.
  7. Ideal for Non-Lead Screw Tappers - The ability to form their own leads makes Thredfloer Taps especially well suited for CNC machines or other machines without lead screws
0 Comments

Quick Maintenance Check on Your Ball Lock Mounting System

2/13/2019

0 Comments

 
Although Ball-Lock® is a simple, robust, quick-change system some simple maintenance can keep is performing at its best and add life to the components. Did you know regularly cleaning chips and debris from your receiver bushings is recommended? It can significantly extent the life of your quick-change system.
How does one check for wear? That’s a great question!
We recommend checking for the following signs of wear:
  1. Numerous flat spots on the ball bearings
  2. Tears or abrasions on the o-ring
  3. Damage to the internal hex of the set screws
*Use repair kits to rebuild shanks when necessary

Pros to keeping your receiver bushings clean:
  • Ensures the best engagement with a shank for proper locating and clamping
  • To avoid containment from settling in your subplate and machine table below

Jergens ball Lock Mounting cutaway
To sum it up regularly cleaning chips and debris from your bushings is recommended. If you notice any signs of wear we recommend replacing the damaged parts with one of our shank repair kits. These kits include a new set of balls, o-ring and a set screw. Click here to learn more.
Happy Machining and make chips happen!
0 Comments

Jason Hoppe Joins High Tech, Inc.

11/1/2018

0 Comments

 
We would like to introduce a NEW employee to the High Tech Family! 

​Jason Hoppe joined us at the beginning of the November. Jason comes to us with a 10+ year machine shop experience, as well as 4+ years working in Industrial Distribution with BlackHawk.


Jason Hoppe started with High Tech Industrial Representation to increase and support the sales growth of the manufacturing they work with.

Prior to joining High Tech, Jason worked at BlackHawk Industrial as an Account Manager.  While at BlackHawk Jason managed a sales territory in Central, MN.   He negotiated contracts and worked on machine processes to increase productivity. He also worked with customers to help manage their level of inventory in their vending solutions and also with BlackHawk’s warehouses. He would also help with new projects to select the proper work holding and tooling selection. He worked on many tooling packages for new machines.  He also ran cost saving solutions to justify cost on the projects. 

Before working at BlackHawk, Jason worked at a machine shop in Melrose, MN. He started as a machine operator on nights. After a month of working nights they saw his potential and moved him up to days as a set-up machinist.  Working in that role for 3 years they gave him the opportunity to become the shop programmer. While working as the shop programmer things progressed quickly and that lead to a supervisor role. He was then in charge of workers on a day and night shift schedule. 

Jason is also a Volunteer Firefighter for the Freeport Fire Department. He joined the Fire Department Jan 1 of 2007. He is a certified First Responder and Firefighter. While being on the department he was elected to take on the responsibility of 2nd Assistant Chief and was in that role for 2 years.  He has fought many structure fires in and around his community. He has also responded to many medical and car accidents.  
​
Jason lives in the country around the Melrose area with his wife, Heidi, and their children, Thor, Sawyer, and Tucker.
He enjoys spending time with his family, camping, going golfing, hunting and fishing.
Please help me welcome him! Minneapolis and North Minnesota.

Jason Hoppe
Jason@HTRep.com
888.654.5380 x102
Cell; 320.250.1088
Picture
0 Comments

Students Display Formula SAE Designs

9/19/2018

0 Comments

 
University engineering students will show off racecar assemblies
produced with cutting tools from Kyocera SGS Precision Tools.

Article Post: 9/14/2018 Matt Danford
Senior Editor, Modern Machine Shop
Picture
Engineering students from the University of Michigan and The Ohio State University show off Formula SAE assemblies at Kyocera SGS Precision Tools’ IMTS booth 432217.

One of college athletics’ biggest rivalries—Buckeyes vs. Wolverines—is on full display this year in the West Building, at the Kyocera SGS Precision Tools’ IMTS booth 432217. The sport isn’t football, but racing, with teams of engineering students from the Ohio State University and the University of Michigan showing off their own designs for Formula SAE race cars.

The result of months of engineering and hands-on learning, the fabricated assemblies share one aspect in common: the manufacturing process employed cutting tools from Kyocera SGS Precision Tools (KSPT). Attendees to KSPT’s booth are invited to see the projects and meet the student teams in addition to browsing the company’s wide selection of tools, which it donates to various schools’ mechanical engineering programs for assorted projects.

The Ohio State University’s Formula Buckeyes motorsport program challenges students of all majors, backgrounds, skill levels and degrees of experience to compete in one of six student teams. Students apply research and classroom concepts as well as learn hands-on skills for designing, fabricating, racing, managing and marketing competition vehicles. This experience includes machining, engine testing, battery testing, computer-aided design and many other engineering tools.

The University of Michigan’s M racing Formula SAE Collegiate motorsport racing series challenges students’ technical innovation and advanced engineering analysis abilities to build formula-style race cars. Fifteen global competitions test each team’s dynamic design theory, budgeting and marketing. The program provides students with a competitive career advantage in the industry and exposes them to different cultures and approaches to engineering. There are over 500+ teams ranked on their performance in six competitions via a point system striving for #1 ranking in the world.


Editors Note:  The original article in Modern Machine Shop was entitled, " " and made reference to "Formula 1" within the article.  It has been corrected in this re-post of the original article to reference "Formula SAE"
0 Comments

Machinist's Guide to Toolholder Maintenance: Part One

7/11/2018

0 Comments

 

General Overview

Modern CNC machines feature high-capacity tool changers that automatically swap toolholders in and out of the spindle as needed, by means of a high speed swing arm or a rotary carousel.
Periodically, toolholders should be examined for wear and if necessary replaced to maintain cutting performance. New operators should be taught how to properly evaluate toolholders so they can recognize when toolholders need to be replaced to prevent premature cutting tool failure, or even expensive damage to the spindle.

Many operators do not know why it is necessary to replace their tooling, or
have the experience to tell when it is time to do so. Determining if toolholder components need to be replaced is not a difficult task, but does require that the operator knows what to look for.

This article will cover the criteria
used to evaluate collet and nut style tool holders, describe when and why it is necessary to replace them and the implications of not replacing them
Techniks CAT40 ER 32 Collet Chuck Nut
A typical CAT40 ER 32 Collet Chuck with a ER32 Collet and a Collet Nut

Sizing Toolholders

A typical size description of a toolholder is CAT40 x ER 32. The “CAT” refers to the flange type, “40” is the taper size, and “ER 32” is the type and size of collet that fits into the pocket.

The other dimension to be aware of is the “Gauge
Length”. This refers to the distance the toolholder extends from the face of the spindle (see diagram.)
Sizing Roatary Toolholders

Parts of Toolholder

A general understanding of collet toolholder components and their functions is important.

There are four main parts to
a toolholder, which can also be called a a collet holder or collet chuck.
  1. Retention Knob/Pull Stud
  2. Taper
  3. Flange
  4. Collet Pocket

On toolholders that are end mill holders, shell mill holders or drill chucks the those portions below the flange are different than depicted here.

Parts of a Steep Taper Rotary Toolholder
Parts of a Steep Taper Rotary Toolholder

Pull Studs / Retention Knob

Retention Knobs, which are also called Pull Studs, are extremely important because they keep the toolholder in the spindle. Using worn pull studs or using the wrong pullstud for your machine may cause the toolholder to suddenly fly out of the spindle during operation, causing an unsafe situation for the machine operator

The retention knob screws into the top of the taper of the tool-holder. Some pull studs are hollow, to permit coolant to flow thru the toolholder.

When in use, the retention knob is held by the clamping set inside the spindle which pulls the hold
er up into the spindle mouth. A spring-loaded draw bar pulls the holder into place.
CAT40 - ANSI-C 45° retention knob / pull stud

Taper

The taper is the conical shaped area of the toolholder that enters the spindle when changing the tool. An 8 degree taper automatically centers the tool into the spindle. The taper is accurately ground to a tolerance of .0002” for both the taper tolerance and outside diameter tolerance.

There is a measurement, AT, of toolholder tapers that designates AT1 through AT8. Most all manufacturers specify an AT3 Taper tolerance as most spindles at made to an AT2 tolerance. Higher speed toolholders will hold a tighter, (AT2, AT1) tolerance.

Some
toolholders like HSK have a shorter taper than BT or CAT style.
Taper Tolerance

V- Flange

The v-flange is the part of the toolholder that the automatic tool changer locks onto when moving the tool from the tool changer to the spindle and back again. The flange is visually identified as the “V” groove found on the outer most diameter of the toolholder. Cutouts in the flange help orientate the holder in the spindle.

Note how HSK taper (right) is a dual-contact taper. Meaning that it is flush with the gauge
line of the spindle face, creating dual contact between the flange of the holder and the spindle face, and the taper itself and the spindle mouth. Dual contact increases tool-holder rigidity for improved performance especially at extended gauge lengths. Techniks DualDRIVE toolholders provide dual contact on V-flange (BT, CAT) spindles
Picture

Collet Pocket

Picture
The last part of the toolholder is the collet pocket, into which the collet is inserted before being secured by various types of collet nuts. The collet pocket, internal 8 degree taper,  should hold the same tolerance as the taper as they work together to control runout
0 Comments
<<Previous

    News & Applications

    Learn about the latest breaking news and applications that we're working on right here!

    Archives

    June 2022
    February 2021
    February 2020
    September 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    September 2016
    February 2014
    July 2012

    Categories

    All
    3D Printing
    Back Counterbore
    Balax
    Ball Lock
    Case Study
    Collet
    High Tech
    IMTS
    Inspection Certificate
    Jergens
    K-Tool
    Kyocera SGS
    Maintenance
    Mark Hurst
    Martin Trunnion
    Masa Tool
    Miniature Gages
    Prototyping
    Pull Studs
    Retention Knobs
    Rotary Toolholders
    Runout
    Steel 4140
    Taper
    Techniks
    Threadfloer
    Thread Forming
    Thread Gages
    Todd Pakiz
    Trunnion Table
    Video
    Visualization
    Workholding
    Z- Carb
    Zero Point System

    RSS Feed

ABOUT
JOURNAL
CONTACT

High Tech Industrial Representation, Inc.

16610 Legacy Lane
​New Prague, MN 56071
612-712-4847
​info@htrep.com
© 2023 High Tech Industrial Representation, Inc.  All Rights Reserved
web design by Rapid Production Marketing
  • Home
    • Products
      • AB Tools
      • AKS Teknik
      • Balax
      • Jergens
      • Kyocera Precision
      • SGS Precision Tools
      • K-Tool
      • Masa Tool
      • Techniks Tool Group
  • About
  • Journal
  • Services
  • Promotions
  • Contact