Application Showcase | Co-Op Tool Workholding Systems

Industrial Pump Industry

A large pump manufacturer approached us to improve the throughput of an existing machining operation via a flexible fixturing solution. The original machining process was to use several manual fixtures each on their own milling machine. Co-op Tool proposed a modular solution using hydraulically actuated fixture “nests”. Multiple nests could be mounted to a 4th axis trunnion with a quick-change, common mounting system. Additionally, quick-change clamping points where designed to be able to run various sizes of each style of part.

In the end, the entire workholding system allowed for the customer to machine any combination of part styles and sizes while reducing the load and un-load time.

Custom Dual 5th Axis

A tier I automotive supplier approached us with a simple problem. They wanted a dual platter 5th axis device to bolt onto an existing 4th axis of an HMC machine. Additionally, the workholding on each platter needed to be hydraulically actuated with pneumatic part presence confirmation (air sensing) and everything had to fit within the weight and envelope restrictions of the 4th axis. Co-op Tool ended up designing and building hydraulically actuated fixtures with integrated bearings and gears. A gearbox was designed to transmit torque from the servo motor to both platters. Everything was sealed from chips and coolant of the machining environment.

Co-op Tool provided and installed the additional servo drive and the customer was able to double production without having to buy additional machines.

Improved Ergonomics

An existing machining operation at an automotive assembly plant was working fine but needed to be improved for ergonomic reasons. The operators had to reach excessively far into the machine to load and un-load the part pieces. Co-op Tool’s solution was to create an automated tilting / shuttle system for the entire indexing fixture. The fixture was comprised of a hydraulically actuated I.D. collet chuck with integrated part presence confirmation (air sensing). The collet chuck was mounted to a rotary indexing unit which sat on a tilting platform. The platform rode on linear guides which allowed everything to shuttle towards the operator.

After the machining cycle completed, the table would tilt to 45 degrees and move within easy reach for the operator to un-load and load the next part.