The advent of Concept-Hydraulic expanding clamping system opens new ways in mastering the most difficult situation with uncompromising thoroughness. Sophisticated technology, perfect construction and special materials make the clamping devices a generation ahead of the conventional work holding fixtures in clamping force, clamping accuracy and load torque.

Whereas remarkable technical advance has been made on machines and machine tools, clamping fixtures have scarcely changed. Hence, the available productivity and precision of the machine was not transferred to the component to be machined to a great extent.

Concept-Hydraulic expanding arbors and chucks offer an optimum solution to this weak link in a machining chain.

Concept-Hydraulic expanding holding devices on the one hand reduce cost and improve quality in almost all areas of machining and inspection while on the other solves the most difficult clamping problems.

The very high repeatability and reliability factors reduce rejections to a minimum. There is no deformation of work piece or damage to the clamping surface - though the clamping force is a maximum of 5 kg/mm - as the clamping force is transmitted evenly to the entire clamping surface. This means even very short or thin walled components could be securely clamped with the least danger of canting or deformation. Furthermore the concentric holding design inherent property provides minimum TIR - under 5 microns. Simple actuation reduces mounting and dismounting time, no tapered mandrel, no hammering, no arbor press. Symmetrical mounting allows mounting of several piece parts.

Concept-Hydraulic expanding holding devices have no loose components (collects or liners) making pressure coolant applications on chucks direct and efficient. Presenting of a hydraulic fixture is also simplified as there is no axial movement while clamping.

Flexibility in design and application of hydraulically controlled holding devices lies in the fact that they can be adopted to perform any machining operation, viz., turning, copy turning, boring, drilling, fixture location, gear cutting, gear shaving, gear grinding and gear honing, inspection, etc. Their design can be extended to clamp on blind bores. Splined or threaded bores could be located on the major diameter, minor diameter or pitch-line diameter.

Concept-Hydraulic expanding arbors and chucks could be applied successfully in inspection of components accurately. Many an inspection requirement not possible by mechanical means could be solved by using hydraulic devices.

No requirement of additional skill and low maintenance cost are the major advantages of these devices.

Working: each device consists of a ported body on which a expanding membrane is mounted rigidly within which is a self-contained hydraulic medium used to expand the membrane. By applying hydro static transmission of pressure through a piston and screw the membrane expands uniformly to locate/clamp the work piece.

Engineering: since most of the time the arbors/mandrels are custom built to suit the application, the company does not have any standards for this. On receiving an enquiry, the company has it carefully and completely analysed with appropriate recommendation and quotation offered with similar examples for consideration. A PDF catalogue showing the construction, mountings, and applications may be down loaded its web site www.conceptarbors.net

(Concept Engineers was established in the year 1984 by a group of then young and energetic mechanical engineers. Contact: Concept Engineers, Bangalore. Email: conceptengineers@vsnl.com)