Quick Change Plate Completes Fixture Setup in 30 Seconds

UOGISHI SEIKI INTERACTIVE CORPORATION manufactures die casting molds for major automobile manufacturers. They use IMAO Flex Zero Base to change fixtures on their 5-axis machining center. They produce mold parts made of tool steel in single part production with this 5-axis machining center.

Previously, operators had to stop machines for changing fixtures and mounting workpieces in the machine, once workpieces changed. It took 30 to 60 minutes to set up and this depressed machine operating rate. This was an issue for UOGISHI SEIKI.

Therefore, UOGISHI SEIKI introduced Flex Zero Base to mount fixtures onto the machine tables, after locating and clamping workpieces outside the machine. Since Flex Zero Base positions fixtures or vises with an accuracy of 0.005 mm and clamps 4 pull studs by only one actuation screw, fixture exchanges are now completed in 30 seconds. UOGISHI successfully improved their machine operating rate. In addition, they are satisfied with the high clamping force of 12 kN which allows heavy duty machining for hard materials.

Based on their philosophy of high precision and high efficiency, SHINKAWA uses a variety of selected equipment to machine single parts for automotive molds and machine components. SHINKAWA introduced IMAO's Flex Zero Base to reduce internal setup time in high-mix low-volume production on their new 5-axis machining center.

Previously, internal settings such as centering workpieces and fixtures were done manually. It took up to 20 minutes per set-up, even for a skilled operator, meaning that the machine had to stop during this time.

This led SHINKAWA to introduce Flex Zero Base on the machine pallets of their 5-axis machining center to change the fixture plates. Flex Zero Base positions the fixture plate with an accuracy of 5 µm, so that NC program correction can now be done automatically using only the 5-axis machining center's touch probe.

This enabled automation of the centering process, reducing the setup time from 20 minutes to about 5 minutes. The machine can now operate continuously for long periods of time without stopping, and the machine operating rate has dramatically improved. Since anyone can easily install the fixture plate by a single tightening operation with Flex Zero Base, skilled operators can now work on more difficult tasks, which is also a great achievement for labor saving.