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In today’s manufacturing environment, you cannot afford downtime. Your machine tool spindle must be turning and cutting chips to maximize your productivity and achieve your return on investment for your machine tool. The workholding you select will have a significant impact on your ability to reduce setup times. Selecting the right workholding can save you countless hours in production down the line. Mate understands the demands of modern manufacturers, and we developed our workholding to simplify your operations and minimize downtime.

When starting the process to reduce setup time for your machine tools, the first step is to review the process and understand the difference between internal and external operations.

• Internal operations are completed while the spindle is stopped (not turning).
• External operations are completed while the spindle continues to turn.

Shifting Internal Operations to External Operations Improves Productivity

The next step is to determine if you can transition any internal operations to external operations. In most cases, many operations that are completed while the spindle is stopped can also be completed while the spindle is still running. This is an area where your CNC workholding can help improve your operations.

• Accuracy and Repeatability – eliminate or minimize inspection operations while the machine tool is sitting idle.
• Zero-Point Workholding – utilizing a DynoLock zero-point base allows you to maintain your zero-point and avoid unnecessary workpiece probing operations.
• Modular Workholding Solutions – load the workpiece into the appropriate DynoGrip top tool while the spindle is still turning. Then, you can quickly load the top tool into the DynoLock zero-point base and press the cycle start button.

How Zero-Point Workholding Reduces Setup Times

After you have transitioned as many internal operations as possible to external operations, the next step is to minimize the time required for the internal operations. Once you understand how long each internal operation takes to complete, you will need to determine what solutions exist on the market today. Mate workholding features numerous options to reduce setup times, including:

• Quick-Change Jaws – All Mate DynoGrip self-centering vises feature toolless quick-change jaws that you can easily remove and install in seconds. They eliminate costly, time-consuming processes such as removing screws, allowing you to change between machinable jaws and standard jaws in a snap.
• Ball Lifters – All Mate DynoLock zero-point bases feature ball lifters to eliminate top tools becoming stuck to the bases, saving you time from having to free your self-centering vises or other DynoGrip top tools.
• Precision Probe Hole – There is no need to store, find, and load a separate centering gauge to probe your zero-point. All Mate DynoLock bases feature a precision center probe hole, allowing you to quickly use your CNC machine tool to probe and set your zero-point, and then start machining parts.

Selecting the correct workholding solution is crucial to achieving optimal performance from your machine tool. The best-in-class performance offered by the Mate workholding will improve your operations both while your spindle is turning and when it is stopped. Mate CNC workholding is designed to minimize downtime, allowing you to get in the cut faster and stay in the cut for longer.