Speedgrip Chuck Reduces Machine Changeover Times

Speedgrip Chuck Co. announces the availability of three new products — the NDS Quick-Change Mandrel, QCR Quick-Change Receiver and CSC Contactless Stroke Control — which are said to improve productivity by making machine workholding changeovers faster and more reliable.

For versatility and efficiency, the NDS Quick-Change Mandrel uses a rear bayonet mount that pulls and secures the workholding collet from behind, eliminating the need for draw screws. The no-draw-screw (NDS) configuration can improve workpiece accessibility, efficiently combining OD and inner diameter ID turning, facing and grinding into one operation with minimal interference.

The company says its one-piece sealed collet design does not break down with extended use under harsh machining coolants. The NDS Quick-Change Mandrel can enable faster spindle speeds without loss of gripping power due to centrifugal force while extending durability and service life.

The NDS Quick-Change Mandrel is adjustable with steering screws to compensate for total indicated runout and concentricity, providing repeatable accuracy to 0.0003". The unit is available in seven standard sizes ranging from 0.5-5" for all standard spindle nose configurations and custom sizes are available upon request.

The QCR Quick-Change Receiver is a manually actuated cam-lock receiving plate that attaches to CNC lathe spindles and reduces the time needed to change workholding clamping devices. With the QCR Quick-Change Receiver, the time needed for operators to switch ID/OD collets, jaw chucks or face driver workholding devices on their machines is said to be cut from an hour to five minutes. Similar to tool retention in the spindle, the QCR has automatic release of the draw connections. 

The QCR Quick-Change Receiver is available for all standard nose configurations, for spindle sizes that run from A2-5 through A11 and flatback spindles. The QCR Quick-Change Receiver also comes in a through-hole design for through-spindle bar feeding operations.

Rounding out Speedgrip’s new product lineup, the CSC Contactless Stroke Control eliminates the need to manually adjust proximity switches after each workholding clamp changeover and provide fast confirmation of part-clamping position. It automatically displays digital measurement of the cylinder stroke while clamped on the workpiece and machine feedback, stroke position and real-time workpiece dimension data during operation and sends clamp confirmation signals to machine tool CNCs.

In addition to confirming part and stroke position, the control data aids in determining whether part parameters are in range prior to machining and helps prevent scrap and tool damage if workpiece clamping is not confirmed. Plus, the design can mount to any CNC workholding device and retrofits to older machines.