Designed for use on either vertical or horizontal machining centres, the Lexair Tri-Grip collet closer maximises the raw material loading capacity of any machining centre. As the exclusive UK agent for this novel, work holding system Tamworth-based Leader Chuck Systems will provide full pre- and post-sales support.

Featuring a compact design with three closers integrated into one body the Tri-Grip unit has simplified hydraulic plumbing and an accessible-from-the-top collet locking screw which allows the part to be correctly orientated. With a maximum working pressure of 5000 psi and a drawtube force of 1.1 times the applied pressure, the Tri-Grip units provide ample grip for any machine shop’s workholding needs.

• Double acting, fixed-length operation maintains the height from part-to-part, the Tri-Grip units can be combined in multiple configurations on a fixture using connectors bushings. This eliminates the need for external pipe work between the units.

  Leader Chuck’s managing director, Mark Jones, says: “Using the popular 5C collet the compact Tri-Grip units can be arranged in grids which increase the loading density of any machining centre’s worktable. For vertical machining centre applications, the units can be located on a plate, which is subsequently fitted to the machine’s worktable. For horizontal machining centres applications, the Tri-Grip units can be mounted on a cube or tombstone to provide a flexible and efficient workholding solution.”

Birmingham-based Leader Chuck Systems is the exclusive UK agent for Lexair Inc collet workholding systems. Designed to reduce machine downtime and increase productivity, the Lexair collet range includes the Full Bore collet chucks and its advanced Prodyne Servo fixed length collet chucks.

As the name suggests, the Lexair Full Bore chuck range allows the full inner diameter of the lathe or turning centre’s spindle to be used because it does not require a draw tube. The range features a self-contained construction, with mechanical grip and an air release front actuated collet chuck. As such the chuck does not require an external actuator. This makes the chuck failsafe as air is only used to open it, spring force holds the workpiece while it is being machined. Higher spindle speeds are achievable since a collet chuck does not have heavy jaws that lose grip force as the spindle speed of the lathe increases.

• Clamping force is adjustable by tightening or loosening the collet using the spanner holes in the front of the collet. For fragile materials or thin walled parts the clamping force can also be reduced by removing pairs of springs inside the chuck.

  Leader Chuck’s managing director, Mark Jones, says: “Compared to normal collet chucks the Lexair Full Bore range provides an increased capacity of 25 to 30 per cent. This will provide significant cost savings for engineering companies carrying out bar fed turning operations because it means that they no longer have to over specify their machine tools just to be able to pass the necessary bar stock diameter through the collet chuck.”

  Also designed to maximise productivity for bar fed applications is the Prodyne Servo collet chuck range. These chucks have been designed for use in programmable bar feeder applications where accurate positioning of the stock is required. Featuring a patented ‘pull-to-close’ design that maintains the position of the bar stock against the bar feed pusher as the chuck closes, it eliminates the need to have a turret stop for positioning.

  Other features of the Prodyne range include concentricity adjustment to further increase accuracy, fixed length collet design, a wedge design that provides high grip force regardless of the spindle speed and a tapered nose for maximum tool clearance.

  Mark Jones concludes: “Maximum bar capacities for the four chucks in the range are 42, 50, 57 and 67 mm and the Prodyne Servo collet chucks are compatible with machines using A-5, A-6 or A-8 spindle noses and can be easily mounted using the machine’s existing draw tube and actuator.”