DATRON Dynamics

Work Holding

One of the most critical factors in successfully machining a part is selecting the proper work holding. The correct work holding for a production run will impact the throughput, quality, tolerances, and safety. Many 3rd party suppliers provide work holdings that will fit on a DATRON machine. DATRON has developed a line of work holdings to meet your high-speed application needs, which will capitalize on the system and improve your overall efficiency.

DATRON offers four basic types of workholding: vacuum tables, pneumatic clamping systems, vertical clamping systems, and mechanical vices with soft jaws.

Vacuum Tables

DATRON has developed a revolutionary vacuum table system to securely hold flat sheet material, dramatically decreasing setup and cycle times. Lay down your sheet material and cut your parts out within seconds of placing the stock. At the end of a production run, harvest the nested parts and lay down a fresh sheet for the next batch. The sacrificial, permeable card stock lets you cut through the material completely without damaging the vacuum table surface. Various designs, sizes, and configurations can easily mount onto the DATRON machines for a wide range of applications and materials.

Rotary Axis

When machining multi-sided or cylindrical parts, a rotary axis is an efficient solution. Like a lathe, the part can be mounted in a chuck and rotated for access to different sides of the part set-up. The part can be rotated in a positional or continuous manner during machining. For longer parts, a tail stock can be added for more stability to the part, reducing vibrations and improving surface finishes and tolerances.

DATRON offers two variations of a rotary axis:

  • One is a 4th axis which rotates a part on one axis.
  • The other variation is a 4th and 5th axis version, that gives you full five axis machining.

 

4th Axis Model

The 4th Axis model will fit on all Datron machining systems. The center of the 4th axis to the machine table is 75mm (2.95”). There are two clamping options available, a 3-jaw chuck similar to a lathe and the Centric clamping system that is like a vice jaw. With the 3-jaw chuck you can clamp up to a 3.125” diameter part and the Centric clamp up to 2.5” wide part. A tailstock is available for the 4th axis to accommodate longer parts.

4th and 5th Axis Model

The 4th and 5th Axis model mounts within the open space located at the front of the Cube series machine with the cutout table option. The trunnion style or ‘U’ axis style can support 5-axis simultaneous machining. The mounting plate for your work holding measures 135mm in diameter and can rotate a full 360 degrees. The trunnion can rotate (tilt) a maximum of 120 degrees.

demonstration of datron 4axis cnc machining vs manual machining

Pneumatic Clamping System

If you are machining a part larger than a standard vice will hold, or have a short cycle time requiring a quick way to load and unload parts, the DATRON pneumatic clamping system is a perfect fit. The clamp and fixed stop can be adjusted to accommodate large parts and panels at the touch of a button, reducing your setup times. Clamp and unclamp your part in seconds with no unwinding or turning of a vice handle. Plus, you can automate the clamps with additional accessories for automatic release and clamping with a robotic arm.

Vertical Clamping System

The M8Cube, MLCube and MxCube models offer an optional open area at the front of the machine for mounting larger or vertical parts. If your part is taller than the clearance of the gantry design, you can mount it vertically at the front of the machine. DATRON has developed a pneumatic clamping system that secures these parts to accommodate this functionality. With this setup, you can efficiently perform a machining operation on the end of a 36” long tube. The vertical mounting system installs in minutes at the front of the machine and can be quickly adjusted to accommodate a wide range of material sizes.

Mechanical Vices

DATRON offers a unique vice that works well with the machining system. The vice is low profile, allowing ample room to secure your part and still have clearance under the gantry design. Additionally, they come with soft or aluminum jaws that are easily machinable and replaceable. You can then customize a profile in the face of the jaws to hold a non-rectangular shape, like a coin. This also helps with part location and often gives more clamping power for aggressive machining operations. There are several vice designs and sizes available.

mechanical vice

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DATRON Dynamics

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Lease Financing Available!

4 datron cnc machines lined up next to each other