How to Boost Efficiency and Cut Costs with Quick Change Systems

What Are Quick Change Pallet Systems?

A Quick Change System is a modular quick-change pallet system that enables fixtures, workpieces or other equipment to be changed very fast on the machine during the initial part setup on machining centers.

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The common practice of changing fixtures within a machining center without a Quick Change System consists of:

• Removing the fasteners that are holding the fixture to the machine table;
• Cleaning the table free of debris;
• Stoning the surface of the machine table to remove any high spots so that the next fixture can sit flat on the machine table;
• Applying the next fixture and lining it square to the machine table before fastening;
• Finding the new co-ordinates to teach the machine the position of the new fixture in both x-axis and y-axis;
• Touching off the spindle to teach the machine the new position for the height in z-axis;
• Doing a dry run to make sure that the machine is safe to cycle through at full speed.

This process can sometimes take up to 30 minutes on average or more!

Changing a fixture with a Quick Change Pallet System consists of:

• Applying air to the base fixture to open the clamping mechanism;
• Removing the existing pallet;
• Blowing any debris away and a quick wipe of the base plate location;
• Placing the next fixture on the base plate;
• Releasing the air to engage the clamping mechanism;
• Cycle start!

This process can take as little as 3-5 minutes and due to the accuracy of the system you do not have to teach the machine any co-ordinates, just use the same as you did last time!

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Schunk VERO-S: Adding Quick Change Systems to your Operation

The VERO-S Quick Change System from Schunk Inc. is a zero-point clamping system that can drastically improve a machine shop’s efficiency by reducing setup time.

The VERO-S clamps workpieces, pallets, clamping stations, existing fixtures, and tombstones with one or more clamping pins. The radial aligned clamping slides of the quick-change pallet system pulls in the clamping pin and locks it. Exact positioning is accomplished via a short taper, and radial location is done via a diamond pin, which assures a repeat accuracy of at least 5µm (0.″).

With the VERO-S Quick Change System, machine set-up times can be reduced by up to 90 percent.

Additionally, all functional components of the new module from Schunk Inc. are made of hardened Stainless Steel. Pull-in force of the new module is up to 9,000 lbs thanks to the patented dual clamping stroke and the integrated turbo function.

The rigidity of the clamping system benefits from this higher force — as a result, considerably higher cutting forces are possible with the VERO-S. Even extremely high shear forces can be absorbed reliably. The VERO-S is paving the way to more precision, efficiency, process reliability, and set up reduction in metal cutting.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Quick Change Fixturing Solutions.