Tooling System accommodates Swiss-style machines.
Press Release Summary:
KM Micro quick-change tooling system reduces time required to change inserts from 5 min to 30 sec. Based on KM quick-change tooling design, system consists of 1 clamping unit attached to gang plate. Clamping unit locks toolholder that uses coincidental cone arrangement to provide 3-point contact between clamping unit and toolholder. Clamping units are available to fit 12 and 16 mm and 1/2 and 5/8 in. gang plate slots.
Original Press Release:
Quick-Change Tooling for Swiss-Style Machines Provides Productivity Gains
Latrobe, PA (October 3, 2002) --Kennametal's new KM Micro quick-change tooling system for Swiss-style machines can provide dramatic productivity improvements, increasing uptime by hundreds of hours per year. The industry's first line of quick-change tooling that accommodates Swiss-style machines, the KM Micro series typically reduces the time required to change inserts from 5 minutes to only 30 seconds. "By switching to KM Micro, companies that run Swiss machines can gain an average of 258 hours per year of additional production capacity and generate $20,000 in added revenues per machine," said Mark Parish, Product Manager for Quick-Change Tooling Systems for Kennametal.
KM Micro tooling is based on Kennametal's globally recognized and proven KM quick-change tooling design. It consists of a clamping unit that is attached to the gang plate like a conventional Swiss-style tool holder. The clamping unit locks a special toolholder that uses a coincidental cone arrangement to provide three-point contact between the clamping unit and the toolholder. The operator indexes the inserts on a toolholder while the machine is running. Then, when the insert in the machine needs indexing, he simply swaps out one toolholder for another, which takes only about 30 seconds.
"Changing inserts on a Swiss-style machine is normally time-consuming because the tools are arranged so closely together that it's usually necessary to take the tool out of the gang plate," Parish said. "This means that a simple insert change typically takes about five minutes, considerably more time than is required on a conventional turning center. If we assume that an average of five tools need to be changed per eight hour shift and the plant works three shifts per day, five days per week, and 46 weeks per year, then the machine is sitting idle a total of 287 hours per year during toolchange. By cutting the time to change a tool to only 30 seconds, the KM Micro system can reduce annual downtime to only 29 hours per year. The savings are typically enough to pay for the cost of the new tooling in a matter of a few weeks. The new line also can substantially reduce setup time, from 30 minutes to 5 minutes in a typical case, by eliminating the need to strip the gang plate.
KM Micro tooling is available in a wide range of sizes and styles to suit nearly every common operation on virtually all Swiss-style machines. The clamping units are available to fit 12 mm, 16 mm, ½ inch, and 5/8 inch gang plate slots. Kennametal also produces special gang plates and clamping units that can make it possible to upgrade some machines to hold seven tools rather than the normal six. The line includes toolholders designed for screw-on inserts as well as Kenlock pin-and-clamp toolholders that use negative rake inserts to provide cutting edges on both sides. Threading and grooving tooling includes Top Notch threading and grooving tools, A3 grooving tools, on-edge grooving tools, and integral and modular cutoff tools. A complete range of back turning tools is offered for turning away from the chuck. The line also includes a full range of collet chucks that can handle drills and taps from 0.02 to 0.50 inches.
For more details on KM Micro tooling and other Kennametal products, please call 800-446-7738 or visit www.kennametal.com.
