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High Precision Micro Machining for the Medical and Dental Industries

Story added 02 November 2010.

High Precision Machining Tooling Ideal for Dental and Medical Industries

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Implants, instruments and medical components are continually getting smaller, whilst their level of complexity is increasing. The production process therefore increases demands on the machine tool, clamping system and cutting tool. As the interface between machine and workpiece, the toolholder plays a decisive role, delivering absolute accuracy and dynamics together with rigidity and damping values that enable optimum surface finishes and tool life - all attributes that Schunk’s TRIBOS polygonal clamping technology can deliver.

The patented TRIBOS Polygonal Clamping Technology from Schunk is a proven expert in micro machining. TRIBOS uses the internal stress of the steel to clamp small tools gently and with absolute safety. The toolholder is pressurized externally by a clamping device to a clearly defined pressure. When the external pressure is released, the tool is force-fit clamped.

One-piece polygonal clamping technology offers clear advantages when compared to collet chucks. The repeat accuracy of collet chucks can greatly fluctuate depending upon the clamping force whilst polygonal clamping technology guarantees long-term excellent concentricity and repeat accuracy of < 0.003mm with an unclamping length of 2.5XD. The TRIBOS has an excellent balancing grade of G 2.5 at 25,000rpm with high holding forces that guarantee high workpiece quality and precision. Unlike multi-part collet chucks, polygonal chucks are mechanically insensitive and guarantee practically maintenance and wear-free clamping.

TRIBOS - Saves Time, Energy and Costs

With TRIBOS the tool change is completed within seconds using a hydraulic clamping device. This saves time and uses little or no power. As opposed to collet chucks, the operator can be sure that sensitive tools remain completely undamaged. Polygonal clamping technology is also superior to heat shrink technology clamping, particularly on small diameter tools where it is difficult to heat the heat shrink toolholder in exactly the right place.

Primarily two types of TRIBOS are used in the medical and dental sectors. Firstly, the high precision TRIBOS Mini that clamps workpieces with h6 tolerance with shank diameters from 0.3mm. This is best suited for use with small tools or when machining delicate work. It is tested to 205,000rpm. Thanks to its slim interference contour with an outer diameter of 9mm, the micro specialist can get to the hard-to-reach areas of the workpiece. The TRIBOS Mini is available as standard from 0.3mm diameter in various styles including the HSK-E 25, HSK-E 32, HSK-E 40, ISO 10 interfaces as well as extensions with a cylindrical shaft diameter of 12mm.

Alongside the TRIBOS Mini is the TRIBOS-RM, developed specifically for high-speed rough machining. The extremely compact toolholder has high radial rigidity and enables the user to fully exploit the possibilities of modern high-speed machining centers. It is used for precision machining at speeds of over 80,000rpm and is therefore perfectly suited for small, highly dynamic machine tools.

The clamping forces of the TRIBOS-RM enable increased machining performance with excellent concentricity, thus improving productivity. The toolholder design dampens vibrations particularly well, clamping shank diameters from 3mm. The high-speed systems are available as standard for spindle interfaces commonly used in medical and precision engineering such as the ISO 10 and HSK 25, 32 and 40.

Supporting the TRIBOS Mini and the TRIBOS-RM, Schunk has now introduced its new TRIBOS SVP Mini and SVP-RM to the market at the recent AMB exhibition in Stuttgart. The SVP Mini and SVP-RM are cost effective actuation systems for TRIBOS Mini & RM, designed to deliver the specific pressures required to actuate the tool change. This new system saves time, energy, reduces set-up costs and eliminates operating errors. Both clamping devices are handled by the operator or directly at the machine spindle and can also be fastened vertically or horizontally at the workbench.

The SVP-Mini and SVP-RM are the ideal supplement for operators who use TRIBOS for micro and high-speed cutting. They are more price-attractive than the universally used TRIBOS SVP2 clamping devices, and deliver a clamping pressure that is always specific to the tool diameter that is being clamped. Thanks to the firmly integrated expansion sleeve, no reduction inserts are necessary and tool change is simplified.

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