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Product category: Machinery and Production Equipment
News Release from: Leader Chuck Systems | Subject: MultiVice MMCC multi-jaw vice system
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial Team on 31 August 2001

Big increases in productivity from vice
system

Leader Chuck Systems' MultiVice MMCC multi-jaw vice system - which makes its UK public debut at Tooling 2001 - claims to offer startling increases in productivity

With the MultiVice MMCC multi-jaw vice system making its UK public debut at Tooling 2001, Leader Chuck Systems is offering visitors the opportunity to achieve startling increases in productivity similar to those being gained by users of its award-winning MultiChuck MMY concentric clamping system and the popular MultiVice MMX vice system All three systems significantly improve the workholding capacity of vertical and horizontal machining centres, milling machines and grinders - in some cases, actually double it - with Dublin-based precision machinist John Bissett Ltd and the Mordun Chuck Jaw Company of Leicester being among the users who endorse that fact

In addition, Leader Chuck Systems' Tooling display will reinforce the company's position as the UK's market-leading workholding specialist with a comprehensive display of lathe chucks including own-brand CNC rotating power and self-contained pneumatic chuck ranges as well as a comprehensive range of collet-style clamping systems and indexing, high-speed, instrument, diaphragm and large-bore chucks, for example.

The Leader MultiVice MMCC is designed for long-run, large batch work.

It utilises any number of 'Dual Action' jaw vices to create an ultra-flexible yet cost-efficient vice system capable of accommodating a high number of components at one time on the same table.

For John Bissett Ltd, a company that specialises in the supply of components and assemblies in the food, print, electrical and glass industries, an amazing 180 per cent increase in CNC milling productivity is being achieved with the system.

Says director, Paddy Joyce: "MultiVice MMCC is in one case enabling us to produce 32 components in a single cycle on any one of our four CNC milling machines rather than having to machine single components using a conventional vice.

"The system has given us a fantastic rise in throughput with quicker load/unload times and reduced machine dead time." Instead of locating and gripping components against centrally-fixed jaws, MultiVice MMCC comprises a series of in-line Dual Action vice jaws fixed to the sub-plate with location dowels.

Each fixed Dual Action vice jaw has an integral moving jaw with 3.5 mm of clamping stroke.

The number of vices that can be used is limited only by the size of the machine table.

In Bissett's case, a four x four-station 622 mm system has been supplied.

The sub-plate slot centre pitch of 80 mm has been chosen, and this will enable Bissett to later fit Leader's award-winning MultiChuck MMY to cater for components that require self-centring.

Using a permanently fixed jaw as the datum, each Dual Action vice jaw is subsequently fixed and positioned by dowel pins 'behind' the previous jaw at a distance dictated by the workpiece size.

This eliminates compound gripping force and thus generates a very stable and highly accurate vice system.

Standard false jaw size is 60 mm wide by 12 mm long by 25 mm high, though other sizes are available to optimise the component variations being handled.

The quick change jaws feature an innovative design of positive dovetail location for continuous repeatability, and they can be provided in a variety of materials.

Flush-fit between false jaw and vice body prevents the ingress of swarf and the table T slots can also be protected by utilising a novel swarf guard that also provides a positive component location stop.

As well as achieving secure locking/unlocking with just a quarter turn of the key, MultiVice MMCC provides these additional features: * Rigid clamping gives increased tool life through less vibration; * No component lift when clamping; * Maximised use of the z axis through its low height; * High clamping pressure; and * Height blocks that raise clamping to the point of cut.

Similar benefits are on offer with the Leader MultiChuck MMY concentric clamping system, the Best Workholding Product at the International Machine Tool Industry Awards 2000.

Promising rapid clamping and short set-up times when self-centring components, MultiChuck MMY's simple top face operation enables more chucks and therefore workpieces to be 'banked' closely together - which is not the case with the traditional side face lock/unlock strategy.

Available with two or three jaws, MultiChuck MMY combines fast initial jaw travel with controlled second-stage clamping to provide a large jaw opening with high gripping force.

Jaw strokes are 4 mm, 5 mm, 8 mm and 10 mm across the four variants, and the low height (from 25 mm to 40 mm) maximises the machine's Z axis (height can be increased using blocks).

Quick change top jaws can be supplied to suit most materials/components.

MultiChuck MMY is available for external and internal clamping and will satisfy both first and second operations in the same machining cycle -thereby providing continuous output of finished components.

It will fit all slotted machine tables.

Also on show at Tooling 2001 is the Leader MultiVice MMX which provides unrivalled levels of power and accessibility in confined spaces.

The system's simple but unique design is the secret of its success.

Comprising a series of clamping stations for multiple part loading - for example, using the MMX 55, a 400 mm by 400 mm plate offers up to 12 clamping stations - MultiVice MMX achieves secure locking/unlocking simply and quickly with just a quarter turn of the key.

MultiVice MMX boasts a number of features that set it apart, but the development of the angled jaw actuator wedge is of particular advantage when the system is used on a two- or four-sided vertical tombstone.

With positive dovetail location for continuous repeatability, MMX provides parallel, self-aligning clamping.

MultiVice MMX's low height (20 mm and 25 mm) maximises the machine's Z axis (height can be increased by using blocks) lengths are 70 mm and 87 mm (moving jaw) and 35 mm and 44 mm (fixed jaw).

Vice widths are 33 mm and 55 mm.

The system can be mounted directly onto a machine table or any type of sub-plate, tombstone, cube or pallet.

The use of MultiVice MMX at Mordun Chuck Jaw Company is not only saving the overhead of at least one person per machine per shift, but it is also enabling the Leicester-based manufacturer to minimise dead time in the production of its bolt-on machine tool chuck accessories.

Additionally, the system has provided Mordun with an unrivalled level of flexibility in the manufacture of families of parts in short batches and in fast turnaround times.

"The days are gone when users simply installed a CNC machine and bolted-on their favourite vice," says Mordun's managing director Tim Hare.

"Yes, the machine will run all day - but it seemed the cutters spend more time 'around the product' rather than actually cutting metal.

There were not many finished components on the floor! "MultiVice MMX is a world away from that, enabling us to quickly accommodate as many components on each loading after every change in product type," he adds.

"And that is extremely important to Mordun because, as a manufacturer of low-cost consumable items, if we are not cutting metal we are not making money.

"Our investment in the MultiVice has more than repaid itself - not only by reducing our finishing department from four men to one, but also by enabling us to produce highly-accurate products in a much more streamlined manufacturing process." Leader Chuck Systems also offers a comprehensive portfolio of own-brand standard CNC rotating power chucks (130 mm to 400 mm diameter) and self-contained pneumatic chucks (80 mm to 500 mm) as well as a wide range of chucks from Gamet, Hainbuch, Hewa, MicroCentric and Zweifel, for which it holds the exclusive UK agency rights.

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