Floyd To Provide Live Demos of New Tooling Lines at MACH

11 February 2022

As the outright experts in sliding head tooling technology, Floyd Automatic Tooling will have two sliding head machines on its stand at MACH 2022 from Star and Citizen. On Stand 472 in Hall 20, the Star SR-32J and Citizen L12 machines will be tooled-up with the latest innovations from the Hertfordshire cutting tool specialists, with machines on the respective Star and Citizen stands also demonstrating the extensive portfolio available from Floyd Automatic.

Having a Star SR-32J Type A and a Citizen L12 demonstrates the strength of the relationships that Floyd Automatic has with the UK’s most successful machine tool brands in the small turned parts segment. At MACH, Floyd will emphasise why it is the ‘go-to’ company for manufacturers of small parts with the fully tooled machines appearing alongside displays of established and new product lines.

On the sliding head turning centres, Floyd Automatic will introduce the latest Applitec Top-Line range of high-performance parting and grooving tools for automatic lathes and the micro industries. Applitec has enhanced its TOP-Line turning program with the latest laser-generated chip breaking ZXT Inserts. The Applitec ZXT chip breakers for grooving and turning operations have honed edges, laser-generated chip breakers and a complete range of geometries and coatings to drastically improve precision, performance and swarf control when machining small intricate components. Alongside this will be the Top-Line 700 Series that consists of an expansive range of indexable insert grades and geometries with specialised toolholders that guarantee unbeatable performance for parting, front-turning, grooving, threading, back-turning and form turning with radial insert geometries.

Accompanying these tools will be the Flo-Tool Series of collet holders for small part machining. With a complete line of ER08, 11, 16, 20, 25 and 32 precision holders available with a range of collet diameters, holder lengths and clamping nuts, the Flo-Tool Series demonstrates unsurpassed precision and run-out for high-performance machining. Complementing the Flo-Tool and Applitec lines will be the Masa Microconic collets. Precise and stable clamping of small workpieces in the sub-spindles of sliding head machines has long been an issue for turned part manufacturers. Floyd has pioneered many solutions in this area, but this latest development in association with MASA tools is revolutionising precision workholding. The Microconic over-grip collet system that consists of a cartridge and precision collet ultimately allows manufacturers to rethink what is possible. The over-grip collet fits inside a cartridge and is accurately adjusted before it is fitted directly into the existing collet sleeve with no machine adaptations are required. The collets are available with clamping diameters from 0.2mm to 10mm, meaning the most fragile of parts can be clamped safely and precisely. With a concentricity level between 3 to 5 microns, the Masa Microconic System is ideal for precision small part turning.

Accompanying the MASA range will be the SRS range of collet clamping heads from Schaublin. With its unique precision runout adjustment system, manufacturers can achieve repeatability within 2µm, making it also suitable for grinding machines using W or B type draw-type collets. To further enhance precision levels, Floyd will also show the Mowidec spindle centring system at MACH. The impressive spindle centring system developed by Wibemo enables manufacturers to reduce set-up times and save on tooling costs, especially when machining small dimensions. The system is suitable for sliding head machines, single spindle turning centres, multi-spindle machines and rotary transfer machines where companies need to adjust a spindle, a tool or a drill.

Also at MACH will be the Hirt Line series of flexible stainless-steel coolant hoses and adaptors. With a complete range of hoses, adaptors, nozzles, plugs, manifold blocks and elbows, the Hirt-Line is resistant to fluid pressure of over 100bar in temperatures from -30 to +60 degrees C. With greater rigidity, extended service life and an unfathomable range of end nozzles for turning and machining centres as well as grinding machines, the Hirt-Line is an attractive proposition for any machine shop.

Also taking a central role will be the HEB Miniplug high-pressure coolant connection system. For tooling blocks with a through coolant facility, the HEB Miniplug eliminates the need for continual hose and connection changes and it reduces excessive use of hoses and connections in compact work envelopes.

Showing the diversity of the Floyd Automatic portfolio, the Nutex range of circular saw blades, the Zeus precision knurling line and the unsurpassed range of Mikron Tool end mills, drills and multi-functional tools will also be on show. The opportunities to witness productivity benefits and set-up time reductions will be plentiful on the Floyd stand.