Innovative work holding solutions that save you time and money
Set-up times are the pain point of every workshop. Modern machine shops need to stay competitive by utilising products that increase efficiency. 5th Axis is leading the way in their fully integrated line of workholding solutions.
It’s important to consider when purchasing zero-point work holding systems these three factors. The zero-point workholding systems:
- Will not be made redundant if a machine shop chooses to robotically automate their production.
- Is modular enough to accommodate many different styles of fixturing (vices, chucks, tombstones, and jigs).
- It can adapt to holding a high density of components.
The 5th Axis work holding system utilises the same components throughout its entire product range allowing users to expand as needed.
When a customer is ready to automate, a readymade ‘cleat’ can be fixed to existing vices/fixtures to accommodate a robotic gripper and pneumatic base. It uses the same stud pattern mounted to the machine eliminating the need to purchase a new system.
MSC Moto started back in 1995 when Mark Cumming offered to make a motorcycle steering damper for a friend and was told it would be too challenging. Since then, it has moved from a hobby to a full-scale production business in many different types of products.
Motorcycle steering dampers help motorcycle riders control the side-to-side motion of the front wheel by dampening sudden hits that might turn your front wheel and send you in an unintentional direction.
Their passion for manufacturing quality components comes from their obsession of motorcycles, with the whole team riding, competing and sponsoring race teams.
Vaughan Cumming has followed suit like his father, machining world-class motorcycle parts.
“It’s a well thought out product for everyday machine shops,” said Vaughan Cummings when asked why he chose to use 5th Axis. “The modular feature of the product also appealed to Cummings as it is, “user friendly to our shop which does a mix of low and high production runs.”
The biggest benefit for Vaughan is the way he’ll be able to run more parts on a machine at one time. With having the machines run for a longer time, they don’t need someone standing at them. Livetools have moved their existing cycle time of 25 minutes to three hours by adding more components into the machine using integrated tombstones and vices.
By utilising 5th Axis products to increase component density, Vaughan has had more time to focus on developing new products for his passion of motorcycling.
CNC Solutions is a prototype and jobbing machine shop owned by Charlie Lewis. They design and manufacture components for the mining, oil, and gas industries. His goal for the company is to provide quality service and grow the business. He is focused on coming up with solutions for the problems they are presented. Charlie would call his business a ‘high-mix, low-volume shop’.
5th Axis helps to reduce their set-up times, so they can have their machines running for more time instead of sitting idle. Lewis manufactured his own sub plates so he can, ‘drop and go’ with his work without the need to dial in vices/fixtures to the machine’s axis. The reduction of set-up times is the reason Lewis uses 5th Axis in his workshop.
His aspirations are to expand his business further by buying new machines and purchasing his own factory.
K&R Hardy Engineering manufactures products for a diverse client base ranging from aftermarket automotive, mining, industrial processing, prototyping, and plastic moulding.
With such a diverse range of clients comes a variety of workpieces and materials. A low volume / high mix of workpieces presents a competitive challenge. Their goal using 5th Axis is to improve their competitiveness by utilising products that save set-up times.
Brent Allwood, a machinist for K&R, uses the RockLock (zero-point system), in combination with the vices for his set-ups. He has permanently set up two RockLock bases which means he can have a job up and running in a matter of minutes. By relying on the repeatability of the system, he has no need to spend extra time dialing up a job.
“The speed of setup is the best part,” says Allwood. “The vices help with all the plastic work they do as a soft material can be held securely with dovetailing.”
“Aside from low volume work we do, occasionally we will get production runs. Quickly changing setups from one-offs to production is the advantage of the system,” says Allwood.
He has manufactured custom tombstones to use in combination with the 5th Axis system to accommodate longer production runs. Challenges are all part of the job for Allwood, as he looks to maintain consistency in high-quality parts and in furthering his abilities in machining.
All machine shops are committed to manufacturing high-quality components, improving productivity, and looking to further themselves and their businesses. In an evolving market, this is the key to remaining competitive.
These businesses work in a range of industries but the one thing they have in common is the reliability of their workholding. 5th Axis workholding is distributed by Livetools. They offer a wide range of workholding solutions needed to get the job done.