FUTURE MANUFACTURING
The zero point will be a productivity booster
ERIK LAUBENGEIGER
The zero-point clamping technology is widely used for clamping workpieces . The small but powerful packages can save over 90 percent of set-up times . Looking across the entire machine and process chain , a large productivity boost can be achieved . Suppliers should therefore have excellent process understanding and offer a wide assortment .
Although zero-point clamping systems can offer large savings of setup times , users should not be satisfied with this alone . A comprehensive evaluation of the process chain of workpiece processing and the necessary machines can offer additional impact . While many suppliers and a large product variety promise fast help . Still , users should not decide in haste . Instead , it makes sense to bring the supplier on board . As a production partner , the supplier can offer a lot of experience and think in a solutionoriented way . If a supplier is not available for this , caution is recommended .
Sources : AMF
Thinking beyond isolated applications
The capability of zero-point clamping technology in daily production is undisputed . High-precision clamping modules with strong pull-in , closing and holding forces ensure perfect clamping in a wide variety of uses . Process reliability and high repetition accuracy for fast and precise workpiece and fixture change are always required . Machine run times and productivity rise considerably . Set-up times of eight minutes instead of the earlier 120 minutes are common .
So far , so good . But if you think beyond an isolated application , many additional effects result . That ranges from tool-mak-
Zero-point clamping technology : If you look at the entire process , you can increase productivity considerably .
10