Floyd MASTER Class in Bar and Work Holding

25 January 2012

Floyd Automatic has launched yet another innovation that overcomes workholding issues and improves productivity for machine shops using sliding head and fixed head turning machines. The new MASTER-Clamp and MASTER-Guide systems from Floyd Automatic Tooling are two new products that solve many sub-spindle component clamping issues and guide bush problems experienced on sliding head machines.

The new MASTER-Clamp system is revolutionary concept that offers a rigid collet body that requires no special sleeves to ensure compatibility with the turning machine. The jaws then clamp the component ‘parallel’. The four* jaws can be machined specifically to suit the component including special sections and eccentric clamping. Moreover, the MASTER-Clamp system enables the end user to ‘over-clamp’ components, a problem frequently experienced by users who need to hold parts close to the cutting area. A larger diameter can be passed through inside the MASTER-Clamp collet with the jaws clamping the smaller diameter where the clamping force is required.

Acting as a mini 4-jaw chuck the MASTER-Clamp system offers increased clamping forces and range than conventional collet systems. With no slots required at the face of the MASTER-Clamp collets, the system eliminates the issue of swarf ingress travelling up the inside of the collet sleeve and marking the component. This feature is also noted on the new MASTER-Guide system that is a guide bushing solution for CNC sliding head turning centres.

The new MASTER-Guide system has been developed to solve common problems that often frustrate users of sliding head machines. One common problem the MASTER-Guide system solves is accuracy. With four clamping pads the system significantly improves accuracy in intricate machining operations. The major advantage of the MASTER-Guide is that the clamping pads can be supplied in different materials and coatings to improve the guiding process and eliminate bar marking that is commonplace when standard carbide bushes react with stainless steel bars. This feature makes the MASTER-Guide the bush system of choice for the machining of difficult materials.

The nature of the design also allows the bush to adapt to variations in the bar. The MASTER-Guide system concept can be used in most types of guide bushing applications, including the popular adaptive guide bush systems that are used to accommodate larger variations in bar sizes. The MASTER-Guide adaptive bush overcomes many of the problems experienced with the current bushes.