Kurt Tip of the Month (2007) |
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December 2007
Considering a Lean Initiative?
See how set-up time was reduced 50 percent using VB DockLock Zero-Point Workholding System. Production output has increased significantly from eight vertical machining centers on the shop floor of Adaero Precision Components Ltd. as a direct result of retrofitting each machine with the Visher & Bolli DockLock® Zero-Point system distributed exclusively in North America by Kurt Manufacturing Company.
Click to Read Full Story | Click to View DockLock Videos |
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November 2007
 Is reducing machining center need
from 2 machines to 1 possible?
In some situations the answer is yes. At Omni Tool, conventional workholding limited machining operations to just 3 axes, hence the need for the second machine even though the vertical machining center has 5-axis machining capabilities. Using the new Kurt VB Schenke 5.1 clamping system was the answer.
Click to Read More | Click to View Video |
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October 2007
 FAST-40 second jaw plate changes.
With the InnerLock jaw plates, it takes only 40 seconds to change jaws. By minimizing down-time, the unique reversible feature saves you money on the jaw plates. Each jaw plate can be mounted in two directions, giving you two jaw plates for the price of one. For instance, the plain jaw plate when in the inverted position has a step for holding small parts closer to the spindle. Our small through-hole design allows for greater gripping surface. |
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September 2007
Revisit these helpful tips to maintain a healthy vise!
 Daily/Weekly Vise Maintenance:
- Clear all free standing machined chips in and around the vise bed.
- Visually inspect all screw brush seals for cleanliness.
- Air-dry and apply rust inhibiting oil to the top surface of the vise bed.
Monthly (1 to 3) Vise maintenance:
- Visually inspect for chip entrapments as applicable.
- Visually inspect all screw brush seals for cleanliness and wear. All vises have a brush seal in the nut on the handle end of the vise. Some vises have a brush seal on both ends of the nut. These brushes “sweep” chips from the screw threads.
- Air-dry and apply rust inhibiting oil to the top surface of the vise bed. Completely open and close the movable jaw, The applied oil will help keep rust from forming in and underneath closed areas and lubricates the threads in the nut.
Vise Maintenance - Every 6 to 12 Months:
- Open the vise until you are able to insert the long of a hex wrench into the socket head set screw in the backside of the movable jaw. Note: the backside of the movable jaw has (3) tapped holes.
- Loosen the setscrew but do not remove. Turn out until the face of the setscrew is approximately 1/4" to 3/8" beyond the backside of the movable jaw.
- With the hex wrench still in place, lift upward allowing the movable jaw to pivot off the nut. Note: There is a segment in the shape of a half ball in the movable jaw cavity, be careful not to misplace while cleaning. Remove all chip guards (See chip guard caution).
- Clean out any chips that may have built up underneath the movable jaw in the center ways of the vise bed.
- At the end of the vise with the hex screw, remove the spiral-retaining ring (earlier style vises used a threaded collar). Slide forward the nut and screw assembly exposing the thrust bearing assembly. Remove bearing assembly and re-apply bearing grease.
- Inspect brush seals and or wiper seals. Remove any chip build up.
- Re-assemble screw and nut assembly installing the retaining ring. You may need to pull up the nut assembly to get the retaining ring into the grooove by lifting upwards at the angled portion of the nut.
- Oil all exposed surfaces of the screw and a small film to the top surface of the vise bed.
- Apply a generous amount of grease into the cavity of the removed movable jaw and place the half moon segment back in place. Align flat approximately to the same angle of the nut. The flat surface will match up with the angle of the nut once reassembled.
- Reinstall the moveable jaw assuring the segment is properly in place
- While pulling back on the moveable jaw, pull it against the segment and re-tighten the setscrew.
- Once the setscrew is tightened, back it out approximately 1/8th of a turn. This setscrew must not be tightened all the way down. If jaws move hard, loosen setscrew another 1/8th turn.
- Close movable jaws tightly. This will 'set' the segment to its proper orientation alignment. Open the movable jaws and re-check the setscrew for proper tightness. Again, do not over tighten.
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August 2007
Less Jaw Lift Equals Better Parts!
| MOVABLE JAW AND JAWPLATE LIFT WITH ANGLOCK SYSTEM (IN INCHES) |
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Clamping Force
Ft.Lbs.
|
HDLM6J |
D688
|
 3600V |
| A |
B |
A |
B |
A |
B |
| 10 |
-0.0001 |
-0.0006 |
-0.0001 |
-0.0001 |
-0.0002 |
-0.0005 |
| 20 |
-0.0002 |
-0.0012 |
-0.0001 |
-0.0002 |
-0.0002 |
-0.0006 |
| 30 |
-0.0003 |
-0.0012 |
-0.0001 |
-0.0004 |
-0.0002 |
-0.0006 |
| 40 |
-0.0004 |
-0.0013 |
-0.0001 |
-0.0005 |
-0.0025 |
-0.0007 |
| 50 |
-0.0004 |
-0.0013 |
-0.0001 |
-0.0006 |
-0.0025 |
-0.0008 |
| 60 |
-0.0005 |
-0.0015 |
-0.0001 |
-0.0007 |
-0.0025 |
-0.0009 |
| 70 |
-0.0005 |
-0.0017 |
-0.0001 |
-0.0009 |
-0.0030 |
-0.0010 |
| 80 |
-0.0005 |
-0.0018 |
-0.0002 |
-0.0010 |
-0.0030 |
-0.0011 |
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July 2007
 Kurt Versatile Lock Vises Have One-Piece Body And Stationary Jaw Design – Provides 0.0005 Inch Clamping Repeatability
Kurt's Versatile Lock Vises have been labeled "the machining industry's ultimate CNC single station CNC vise." These unique vises feature a one-piece body and stationary jaw design integrated with Kurt's time-proven Anglock feature. Together, this pull-type jaw clamping design reduces jaw stationary deflection by at least 80 percent providing clamping repeatability of 0.0005 inch. (Read More) |
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June 2007
Did You Know?
 Kurt Electronics provides gaging systems from simple benchtop stations to multifeatured measuring machines for automotive, medical, aerospace, and manufacturing applications.
Our products include gage design and build, standard modular gaging components, full Windows-based 32-bit SPC software (KurtSPC) running under Windows XP or 2000 and data collection hardware, including industrialized computers and direct gage interface through a USB port (KurtUSB). Direct gage interface products include a USB interface for hand-held tools, LVDT probes, analog sensors and other devices.
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May 2007
Comparison of average loss on set-up changes! (machining hour $90)
|
Conventional
|
with VB DockLock (read more)
|
a) Vise |
b) Fixture |
a) Vise |
b) Fixture |
 |
 |
 |
 |
20 min. $30.– |
40 min. $60.– |
2 min. $3.– |
2 min. $3.– |
Increased efficiency with VB DockLock zero-point workholding system
(assumption 200 working days) Based on Published Averages |
a) with Vise |
savings in one year |
| savings $27.00 |
1 machine |
5 machines |
5 machines |
with every change |
1 shift |
1 shift |
3 shifts |
|
1 set-up change per day
|
$ 5,400 |
$ 27,000 |
$ 81,000 |
| 2 set-up changes per day |
$ 10,800 |
$ 54,000 |
$ 162,000 |
| 4 set-up changes per day |
$ 21,600 |
$ 108,000 |
$ 324,000 |
|
b) with Fixture |
savings in one year |
| savings $57.00 |
1 machine |
5 machines |
5 machines |
with every change |
1 shift |
1 shift |
3 shifts |
| 1 set-up change per day |
$ 11,400 |
$ 57,000 |
171,000 |
2 set-up changes per day
|
$ 22,800 |
$ 114,000 |
$ 342,000 |
| 4 set-up changes per day |
$ 45,600 |
$ 228,000 |
$ 684,000 |
(Click Here to read more about VB DockLock) |
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April 2007
Custom or Standard Workholding... Do You Know What is Best?
Let Kurt Help You Decide. Ask the Kurt Guy For Advice (CLICK HERE)  
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March 2007
Reduce Machined Component Costs By 65 Percent?
 Four Kurt HD Vises Provided Setup With Quick Change Jaws and Hold
40 Components For Highest Density Machining.
Four Kurt HDM6 double station vises mounted side by side on a
vertical milling machine (VMC) gave Super Torquer Systems, Inc.
reduced part machining costs of 65 percent utilizing quick change
jaws and some intuitive process planning by the company's owners,
Randy and Cindy Nouis. read more
(READ MORE) |
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February 2007
 If the workholding isn't rigid enough, part quality suffers. Cutter life is reduced. Downtime occurs. And operator frustration sets in. It's a task that requires the rigidity of ductile iron workholding, as reported by Bill Roberts, senior process engineer for Roberts Automatic Products, a leading supplier of quality, precision production machining for over a half century. (READ MORE)
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January 2007
Machining on 5 sides with one single clamping operation
 |
The rational vise system for 5 axis machining
- High clamping force (up to 40 kN) exactly where it is needed, by incorporating the tension spindle directly below the work piece support.
- No flare out of the jaws under tension, no distortion on machine table.
- Extreme rigidity permits maximum cutting forces.
- The special design and a clamping depth of just 8 mm permits obstruction free machining on 5 sides.
- Any desired clamping width, limited only by the size of the machine table. The two clamping jaws, one fixed and one moving, can be positioned at any desired distance from each other.
- Clamps blank work pieces, machined work pieces, round and irregularly formed work pieces.
- Positive clamping with embossing jaws.
- VB 5AX100 Schenke Clamping System can be mounted on T slot or location grid machine tables or any custom fixture
(READ MORE) |
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