Designed for the clamping of micro-workpieces in the sub-spindles of sliding-head turning machines, Floyd Automatic Tooling, in association with Masa Tool of the USA, has released the Microconic system into the UK marketplace. The Microconicworkholding system consists of a cartridge and precision collet. Importantly, no machine adaptations are required: the collet fits inside the cartridge and is adjusted before being fitted directly into the existing collet sleeve.

With a concentricity level of between 3 to 5 µm, Microconic is suitable for sliding-head lathe marques including Tornos, Citizen and Star. It is currently available for F20 and F25 style collets, with F37 versions in development. A 5C version can also be offered.

The cartridge system incorporates a solid extended nose and has the facility for micron-adjustment of the collet closure. To confirm precision levels, the hardened and ground cartridges can be used as gauges to verify spindle accuracy.

Masa’s Microconic also includes ‘over-grip’ collets where clamping behind a shoulder is necessary, for example. The cartridge/collet combination can accommodate openings more than 4 mm larger than the clamping diameter (depending on the application). This flexibility offers production engineers the potential to machine the part the other way around, which can sometimes help improve cycle times.

Microconic collets are available in 0.05 mm increments from 0.22 to 10 mm diameter. Each collet has a nominal clamping range from 0.05 to 0.1 mm depending upon the chosen collet diameter. With regard to the over-grip collets, the nominal clamping diameter starts at 0.5 mm with a maximum clamping diameter of 7.2 mm.

For further information
www.floydautomatic.co.uk

This article originally appeared in Machinery Trade International

Masa Tool’s Microconic T-type over-grip collet features a longer gripping surface for holding longer parts. The collet can open as wide as 3.5 mm (0.138") over the chucking diameter and runs within 5 microns (0.0002") TIR.

The collet is designed for use with longer parts such as bonescrews with wide-pitch threads; orthopedic surgical drills and taps; long shafts with flange; long, thin-walled tubular parts and long plastic parts.

Extra spread is required to open the collet wide enough to go over the larger diameter. The correct over-grip collet for a specific part can be chosen based on grip diameter, width of the grip land and the largest diameter of the part.

According to the company, the collet expands machine capability, eliminates secondary operations and reduces cycle time. It features a standard gripping land length of two-to-three times the diameter. It is available with diameters ranging from 1.55 mm to 7.2 mm (0.061" -0.283").

The collet is said to grip with the same rigidity and accuracy as regular collets and features a fatigue-tested design built to last more than 250,000 full-load cycles. The collets are compatible with the company’s cartridges and come with its Microguide Brass ejection guide sleeve blank.

The push-type F201M10 micro-workholding cartridge system replaces F20-201 cartridges allowing the user of Microconic collets to achieve concentricity within 5µm (0.0002") in production use.

For use in high precision, small diameter CNC turning applications, it enables users to move more work to the sub-spindle for reduced cycle time.

The F201M10 cartridge is compatible with spindles that accept F20-201 collets including DIN 136E, Meister Swiss 136E, Schaublin F20 (76-201), Southwick & Meister F20-201, KEB (MasWerks) MC20-201, and Hardinge F20-201/4709 collets.

This article originally appeared in
Today's Medical Developments
July 5, 2018

Masa Tool’s Microconic push-type F201M10 cartridge pairs with its Microconic collets for concentricity said to be within 5 microns (0.0002") in production use. The cartridge is a micro-workholding system for use in high-precision, small-diameter CNC turning applications. The cartridge is compatible with spindles that accept F20-201 collets.

The cartridge and accompanying collet are designed to vector the chucking force directly over the holding surface, reducing the chucking force while also increasing the holding power. This reduces chucking damage on the workpiece and reduces cycle times by 20 to 40 percent, the company says. 

The cartridge’s solid extended nose enables access for tooling and coolant with minimal overhang. Its core diameter is a single-piece construction that is designed to maintain 5 microns (0.002") concentricity at the extended nose tip. Used with the company’s Micrograd wrench, the cartridge features micrometer dial control of collet clamping pressure regardless of the machine’s hydraulic or pneumatic collet closing force. The cartridge is suited for small-diameter parts ranging from 0.22 mm (0.008") to 10 mm (0.3934") in diameter.

"Micro-movement" of the workpiece is reduced, resulting in a longer tool life, better finishes, fewer chatter problems, and less damage to the workpiece. The cartridge eliminates secondary operations, saves time and enables operations to be done in the subspindle. Broaching, milling, saw cutting/slotting, turning, boring and drilling can be machined in the subspindle.

We have just released the NEW 2018-2019 Masa Tool Catalog! Our first batch of new catalogs is shipping directly to our IMTS booth in Chicago for release, but you can download your own copy right here!

OCEANSIDE, CA - Masa Tool has just released the newest product in the Microconic line of cartridges for swiss machine workholding. The NEW push type F37M10 Cartridge replaces the standard TF37 collet in your CNC spindle. This enables you to use our Microconic collets to achieve concentricity guaranteed to be within 5µm (0.0002") in production use.

The  F37M10 Cartridge is a micro-workholding system for use in high precision, small diameter CNC turning applications which enables you to move more work to the sub spindle operations and reduce cycle time.

​Compatible with spindles that accept DIN 1536E, Meister Swiss 563, Schaublin F37 (76-740),  Southwick & Meister TF37, KEB (MasWerks) MC37,  Hardinge TF37 / 4619 collets.

Masa’s Cartridge and Collet assembly is designed to vector the chucking force directly over the holding surface.  This means that the chucking force can be reduced while at the same time the holding power is increased. This opens up the possibility of moving part operations to the sub-spindle and dramatically reducing cycle time.  20% ~ 40% cycle time reduction is commonly achieved.​

This new cartridge will be demonstrated for the first time at IMTS 2018 in the West Building, Level 3 & Annex - Tooling & Workholding Systems - 432232

​The standard Microguide EGS is made of brass. Masa Tool has expanded the standard offer of Microguide EGS to include a selection of  both Plastic and Stainless Steel versions.

A critical aspect to using over-grip collets is to make sure the part is ejected reliably when it is completed being machined. Due to the wide opening of the over-grip collets, parts can get jammed in the collet slot.  As a result, the collet will be damaged or break when it is closed.

Every Microconic over-grip collet is supplied with a blank Microguide EGS ejection guide sleeve that you can drill to size to fit your specific part to enable the finished part to be ejected consistently without damage to the over-grip collet. The EGS is meant to be drilled through with a loose-fitting hole that will support and help guide the workpiece as it is ejected from the collet. Users can customize the Microguide EGS to match their specific workpiece and method of ejection.

​EGS10-XX, Ejection Guide Sleeves - Currently available in all materials & sizes below:
    EGS10-01 for UM10W-(ALL)               360 Brass
    EGS10-02 for UM10V-(ALL)                  360 Brass
    EGS10-03 for UM10W-(ALL)                303 Stainless Steel
    EGS10-04 for UM10V-(ALL)                  303 Stainless Steel
    EGS10-05 for UM10W-(ALL)                Acetal (Delrin)
    EGS10-06 for UM10V-(ALL)                  Acetal (Delrin)
    EGS10-07 for UM10T-20 to -240        360 Brass
    EGS10-08 for UM10T-245 to -325     360 Brass
    EGS10-09 for UM10T-330 to -420     360 Brass
    EGS10-10 for UM10T-425 to -530     360 Brass
    EGS10-11 for UM10T-535 to -635     360 Brass
    EGS10-12 for UM10-(ALL)                      360 Brass (15mm length rear extension)

We also have a special type of guide sleeve blank designed for very long parts like this, which extends out the back end of the collet about 1/2" further to give some support.

They are our part number EGS10-12.

Matt Saccomanno, the Co-Founder of Masa Tool and inventor of the Microconic Workholding sytem will talking about process innovations in the metalcutting manufacturing industry during the International Manufacturing Technology Show, IMTS, in September at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. 

Swiss-type CNC machines have gained in capability and demand as the machined components they produce are trending toward higher precision and micro-sized features. As the machines have become more sophisticated, the underlying basics of workholding remained unchanged until recently.

​This presentation is an overview of new developments as well as traditional approaches with relevance to today’s highly capable sliding headstock “Swiss-type” CNC turning centers. The goal is to summarize best-practices for optimizing use of both main and sub-spindle to maximize productivity and overall equipment effectiveness. The material presented is useful for machinists, CNC programmers, tool crib personnel, manufacturing engineers, estimators, and hands-on managers.

If you would like to reserve your spot in this technical presentation and discussion please click the below button.

Metal Cutting Corporation was founded in 1967 and moved to their current 52,000 square foot manufacturing facility in 1998. In 2008 they expanded their existing machine shop capabilities with Haas and subsequently Citizen turning equipment, allowing them to offer multi-axis CNC milling, lathe and automatic Swiss style machining up to 7 axes.

Their specialty has always been small diameter parts made from all metals.

"The parts can be long but are most often short, often very short."

When the company started in the late 1960's they  primarily worked with non-ferrous metals, especially tungsten and molybdenum. So much so that  in 1984 they became the exclusive North American distributor for Nippon Tungsten Co., Ltd.’s tungsten and molybdenum products. Since  the the 1980's they have been working with and machining more stainless steel and now have a developed a deep knowledge of machining the newer nickel and titanium based alloys.

Over the past several months Rich has been able to apply the Microcnic system to several other products that they make in their Citizen Machines.