Custom Gripping Solutions For Fastener Industry

Hardinge manufactures collets for virtually all brands of machines and adapters used in the fastener industry. These precision collets can grip blind bolt fasteners, solid and blind rivets, bolts, screws, nuts, inserts and studs. A majority of these fasteners are used in the global aerospace market. Also available are over-the-shoulder gripping, solutions for non-marking and features such as coolant flushing. Along with aerospace, the company supports the automotive, commercial transportation, defense and industrial markets.

One product, an over-the-shoulder pickoff collet assembly designed for the manufacture of rivets, is based on a modified 5C collet and ejector stop. This combination enables the user to take advantage of automation, including robot loading, for which a flat face and a short bearing provide robot gripping access. The rivets are automatically spring-ejected into a parts bin when the collet opens. This design also features through-coolant capability.

Another collet incorporates three internal tapered cavities to support through-spindle coolant flushing for boring, drilling or tapping. The gripping surface (order hole) and the locating chamfer at the opening are hard-turned to a specified micro finish.