End Cutting Tool Movement

Micro creep (movement of the cutting tool when it is clamped in the toolholder), or even pullout can occur if the tool is not securely held in its holder.

Situation

Recently Metelix, a Brampton, Ont., custom manufacturing company, had an obvious problem with micro creep, movement of the cutting tool when it is clamped in the toolholder. The evidence was in the full scrap bins and the high number of pieces going back to be remachined.

Productivity was down so General Manager Mike Monge was looking for an answer to stop the cutting tools from pulling out, pushing back, or moving in their chucks.

Much of the company’s work is for the automotive industry, and delays can spell disaster.

“We do a lot of blow molding, which involves cutting in very deep cavities. It’s a high-precision application, and our toolholders were not allowing us to meet our clients’ strict deadlines or quality expectations,” said Monge.

The company tried hydraulic holders, but the cutting tool movement continued. Not only that, productivity still suffered because the bulky hydraulic holders didn’t offer the clearances needed for vertical walls or undercutting.

Resolution

Monge’s micro creep problem ended when the company added Haimer’s Safe-Lock™ system, a clamping tool specifically engineered to overcome micro creep and enhance high-performance cutting.

When combined with the frictional clamping forces of the particular clamping system already in use, this system delivers a high level of positive locking force in the toolholder. This is achieved by the use of special

A high level of positive locking force in necessary in the toolholder to help guarantee process security.

drive keys in the chuck and grooves of the tool shank that prevent the milling cutter from spinning during extreme machining.

“[We no longer] remachine to remove additional material or repeat jobs due to imperfect cuts. The shrink fit chucks also are tapered and a lot smaller in diameter, so we can go in deeper and closer to the material. Now we can even go down a straight wall,” said Monge.

The turnaround on the line also has never been better, which is a big plus in the company’s competitive industry.