Haimer Gets to Grips With Industry 4.0 With New Shrink Fit Technology

At the recent EMO exhibition, the world’s largest Shrink Fit toolholding manufacturer took its innovation to a new level with the arrival of the Series of Industry 4.0 ready shrink fit systems. Adding to the already well recognised Basic, Profi and Premium Series, Haimer used EMO as the launch-pad for the new Power Clamp Premium i4.0, the Sprint i4.0 and the Comfort i4.0.

Andreas Haimer, President of the Haimer Group says: “At EMO we showed for the first time the new digital and touchpad ability of our shrink fit machines, we call this the Industry 4.0 Series. This is the future of shrink fit whereby you can be connected via a network to your tool management library. The system also has a scanner that makes it easier to operate it. In addition, the system has two cooling options available.”

The new shrink fit system works in tandem with the tool holders that offer a dot matrix barcode identification system. This communication highlights where the patented NG coil system has to be positioned and within 3 to 5 seconds, the Haimer system heats the toolholder to approximately 350 degrees C. This innovation is suitable for both HSS and solid carbide tools from 3 to 32mm diameter and it can read the shrinking parameters of the toolholder. The new additions are equipped with a user friendly 7 inch touch screen display and an intuitive software interface.

Of course, as a world leader in Shrink Fit, the innovation doesn’t stop there. The Power Clamp Premium i4.0 that serves as a replacement for the previous machine and it has an integrated cooling position indicator that is automated to simplify and speed up the process of cooling the toolholders.

The Power Clamp Sprint i4.0 model applies a new air and water mist cooling innovation that delivers efficient tool release whilst avoiding the potential for contamination from dirt or coolant. Very special about this cooling system is that it works for all kind of tool holder geometries. Even Haimer’s new shrink fit collets for turning and milling machines can be cooled down efficiently by the Sprint model. This latest machine can also be fitted with a length pre-setting option.

Commenting upon why manufacturers opt for Shrink Fit systems over alternative methods, Mr Haimer says: “The Haimer system is a push-button system. This means that customers are not over tightening or under tightening the tool holder. It is always the same repeatability in terms of concentricity and the same fine balance. So, this is the best system in the world for modern tool clamping at the push of a button.”