IMTS 2026 returns to McCormick Place in Chicago September 14–19, bringing together manufacturers, machine shops and technology suppliers from across the metalworking industry. Several of the manufacturers represented by JMI CNC Tooling & Automation will be exhibiting, giving attendees an opportunity to see the latest developments in cutting tools, CNC workholding, deburring, Swiss machining and manufacturing automation.

Here are nine JMI principals to put on your IMTS 2026 show plan.

AB Tools manufactures high-performance rotary cutting tools for milling, holemaking, deburring and other CNC machining applications. The company is particularly well known for its Shear-Hog® line of aluminum roughing cutters, designed for aggressive material removal in non-ferrous materials, along with Accu-Hold tooling and custom cutting-tool capabilities.

• West Building, Level 3 — 432264 — Tooling & Workholding

ARNO USA offers a broad range of indexable cutting tools for turning, grooving, parting, drilling and milling, with tooling engineered around productivity, chip control and process reliability. IMTS visitors can explore ARNO solutions ranging from its SHARK drilling systems and parting and grooving tools to advanced tooling with precision coolant delivery.

• West Building, Level 3 — 431585 — Tooling & Workholding
  

Blue Photon provides an alternative approach to holding complex, delicate and difficult-to-clamp components during machining and manufacturing. Its photo-activated adhesive workholding technology can secure parts without conventional clamps obstructing critical surfaces, making the system particularly interesting for 5-axis machining, aerospace components and other challenging workholding applications.

• West Building, Level 3 — 431446 — Tooling & Workholding

Brush Research Manufacturing, BRM, is the developer of the Flex-Hone® tool and manufactures a wide range of abrasive nylon brushes and industrial brushing products for deburring, edge blending and surface finishing. Its tooling can be integrated directly into CNC machining operations, making it possible to perform processes such as cross-hole deburring and surface conditioning as part of the machining cycle.

• North Building, Level 3 — 237148 — Abrasive Machining/Sawing/Finishing
  

Jergens is a major supplier of CNC workholding, quick-change fixturing and 5-axis machining solutions, including Ball Lock® mounting systems, Zero Point Systems, self-centering vises and modular workholding components. At IMTS 2026, Jergens will showcase workholding technologies aimed at reducing setup and changeover time while improving part accessibility, repeatability and opportunities for machining automation.

• West Building, Level 3 — 431910 — Tooling & Workholding
  

Masa Tool is the developer of the Microconic™ workholding system, a precision collet system designed to improve sub-spindle workholding on Swiss-type CNC machines and other small-part turning applications. Microconic provides highly accurate, repeatable gripping close to the workpiece while offering interchangeable collets across compatible cartridges and machine configurations.

• West Building, Level 3 — 432163 — Tooling & Workholding
  

Pratt Burnerd America and Atlas Workholding provide a broad range of precision lathe chucks and engineered workholding systems for CNC turning applications. Their product offering includes manual and power chucks, collet systems, special chucks, mandrels and custom workholding solutions for applications ranging from general machining to demanding production environments.

• West Building, Level 3 — 431384 — Tooling & Workholding
  

Soph specializes in magnetic workholding and material-handling solutions designed to simplify setups and provide unobstructed access to workpieces. Magnetic chucks and related systems can be particularly valuable for grinding, milling and other applications where conventional clamps may interfere with machining access or increase setup complexity.

• West Building, Level 3 — 432184 — Tooling & Workholding
  

Tapmatic has been developing tapping attachments and secondary machining tools for more than 70 years, with solutions for tapping, marking, deburring and related manufacturing operations. Its product range gives manufacturers options for improving thread production and adding secondary operations to CNC machines and other production equipment.

• West Building, Level 3 — 431322 — Tooling & Workholding
  

From high-performance cutting tools and Swiss machining workholding to 5-axis fixturing, magnetic workholding and automated deburring, JMI's manufacturing partners will have a wide range of technologies on display at IMTS 2026.

If you're attending the show and would like help identifying which tooling or workholding solutions make sense for a particular machining application, contact JMI CNC Tooling & Automation or visit our principals at their booths throughout McCormick Place.

by Bernard Martin

Pneumatic workholding occupies a position between conventional manually operated vises and more complex hydraulic workholding systems. It provides powered, controllable clamping using a resource already available in most machine shops—compressed air.

The Jergens Pneumatic Self-Centering Vise applies this principle to compact 5-axis workholding. Rather than simply replacing a hand-operated screw with an air cylinder, the system combines pneumatic actuation with synchronized jaw movement, adjustable clamping force and a low-profile geometry intended to preserve tool access around the workpiece.

Understanding how these elements work together helps explain where pneumatic workholding can offer an advantage in your production and automated machining.

In a conventional vise with one fixed and one moving jaw, the workpiece is referenced against the fixed jaw. A self-centering vise works differently.

Both jaws move simultaneously toward or away from the vise centerline. As the jaws close, the workpiece is positioned approximately symmetrically about that centerline.
This is particularly useful in 4- and 5-axis machining, where the center of the workpiece is frequently positioned close to the rotational center of the machine setup. Maintaining that relationship can simplify programming and allow different workpiece sizes to be accommodated without changing the fundamental work offset strategy.

Jergens' pneumatic vise replaces manual actuation with a double-acting pneumatic mechanism. Air pressure is used to positively actuate the vise in both directions—clamping and unclamping—rather than relying on a spring return for one half of the cycle.

That becomes important when the vise is incorporated into an automated process because both states can be commanded pneumatically.

A pneumatic actuator converts air pressure acting over a piston area into mechanical force. At its simplest:

Force = Pressure × Effective Piston Area
The actual clamping force at the jaws also depends on the internal mechanical geometry and losses within the vise.

For the Jergens pneumatic self-centering vise, the manufacturer publishes the following relationship between input pressure and resulting clamping force:

The nearly linear relationship is significant because it allows clamping force to be controlled through regulated air pressure.

Instead of depending on an operator to reproduce the same tightening torque with a wrench, the pneumatic system can be supplied at a predetermined pressure for each cycle.

That can improve process consistency, particularly when machining parts that can be distorted by excessive clamping force or when the same workholding system is used across several applications.

Generating sufficient clamping force is only one requirement of a precision vise. The direction in which that force is transmitted into the workpiece also matters.

One common problem in vise workholding is jaw lift. As the movable components are loaded, clearances and elastic deformation can allow the jaw or workpiece to move slightly upward rather than remaining firmly seated against the locating surface.
Even a small amount of vertical movement can affect part location, parallelism and repeatability.

Jergens addresses this with quick-change jaws incorporating a pull-down feature intended to minimize jaw lift during clamping. The objective is not simply to squeeze the workpiece horizontally, but to help maintain its seated position as clamping force increases.

For 5-axis machining—where a part may subsequently be subjected to cutting forces from several directions—maintaining that initial seating condition is particularly important.

The pneumatic mechanism provides approximately 0.220" of clamping stroke.
That number needs to be understood correctly.

Pneumatic stroke is not necessarily the same thing as the total range of workpiece sizes the vise can accommodate. The jaws are mechanically positioned for the approximate workpiece size, while the pneumatic stroke provides the final movement required to clamp and release the part.

This design eliminates requiring a large pneumatic actuator to move the jaws across the vise's entire usable range and makes it well suited to production machining using robotic part loading, where successive workpieces are nominally the same dimensions.

Workholding geometry becomes increasingly important as additional machine axes are introduced. On a 3-axis machining center, spindle access is primarily from above. In simultaneous or positional 5-axis machining, the spindle may approach the component from the side or at a significant angle.

A tall vise body or excessive material surrounding the workpiece can create interference between the spindle, toolholder, cutting tool and fixture.

The compact Jergens design is therefore about more than saving table space. Keeping the vise relatively low while elevating the workpiece above the machine table helps increase the angular access available to the cutting tool.

This can allow more features to be machined in a single setup and reduce the amount of workpiece repositioning required between operations.

Powered workholding also introduces a consideration that manual vises do not have: how the energy reaches the fixture. The Jergens vise provides both bottom pneumatic ports for manifold-style plumbing and side ports for external air-line connections.

Bottom plumbing can be advantageous when designing a dedicated fixture or pallet because air passages can potentially be routed through the fixture structure rather than having hoses surrounding the work envelope.

Side connections provide a more straightforward approach when adding pneumatic workholding to an existing machine or when a manifold is unnecessary.

This flexibility becomes increasingly important when multiple vises are installed on a tombstone, rotary table, trunnion or automated pallet.

The vise itself is only one component of a pneumatic workholding installation.  Air pressure must be filtered and regulated, directional valves must control airflow, and the system requires appropriate fittings, hoses and gauges. Automated installations also need a method for the CNC, PLC or automation controller to command the valves.
Jergens addresses this with its 130mm Pneumatic Self-Centering Vise Kits.

Depending on configuration, these packages can incorporate filtration and regulation, pressure gauges, pneumatic valves, fittings and color-coded air lines. Versions are available with manually actuated valves as well as 24VDC solenoid valves for electrically controlled installations.

Jergens also offers high-pressure booster configurations for applications requiring greater pneumatic pressure.

For CNC automation, the solenoid-controlled configuration is particularly relevant. Instead of requiring an operator to open or close the vise, an electrical command can actuate the pneumatic valve, allowing clamping and unclamping to become part of the machine or automation sequence.

Pneumatic workholding does not replace every manual or hydraulic vise.The available clamping force, workpiece geometry, cutting forces, required rigidity and failure-mode requirements still need to be evaluated for the specific machining process.

Where pneumatics become particularly attractive is in applications requiring frequent and repeatable clamp/unclamp cycles without necessarily requiring the force density and infrastructure of a hydraulic system.

That can include robot or cobot loading, repetitive production machining, palletized workholding and operator-loaded processes where reducing manual intervention is valuable.

The Jergens Pneumatic Self-Centering Vise combines that powered actuation with the geometry of a compact 5-axis vise. More importantly, its regulated clamping force, double-acting operation, self-centering jaw movement and pneumatic control options make the workholding itself something that can be integrated into the machining process rather than treated as a purely manual fixture.

For shops moving toward automated machining, that distinction can be just as important as automating the loading of the part.

Ready to Put Pneumatic Workholding to Work?Whether you’re automating part loading, improving clamping consistency or looking for a more efficient workholding solution for 5-axis machining, the right vise and pneumatic configuration depend on the application. Contact JMI CNC Tooling & Automation to learn more about Jergens pneumatic self-centering vises and find the right workholding solution for your CNC machining application.

South Carolina's  manufacturing sector is growing at a record pace that shows no signs of slowing, from global manufacturing headquarters to expanding advanced operations. Greenville County alone has averaged manufacturing employment growth of more than 17% over the last decade.
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That momentum makes Greenville the ideal hub for small and medium-sized manufacturers across the Southeast to come together, share ideas, and discover the latest technology that keeps shops competitive.
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We’re bringing a lineup of high-performance tooling and workholding partners that solve real problems on the shop floor:

• AB Tool – Home of the Shear Hog and AccuHold! Special carbide cutting tools delivered in 3–6 days.
• MAQ – Vibration-damped tool holders for internal turning operations from 3xD up to 15xD. 
• Microconic by Masa Tool – Subspindle workholding for Swiss & CNC lathes
• Pratt Burnerd America – Precision lathe chucks and workholding systems
• Soph Magnetics – Magnetic workholding and material handling solutions

While you’re at the show, make sure to stop by our other partners right in our aisle!

• AKKO - Booth 1934 –  A global leader in precision tooling since 1986, AKKO delivers high‑performance rotary toolholders, turning and milling toolholders, and a broad range of precision carbide inserts—tailored for minimal vibration, exceptional surface finish, and versatility across applications
• Blue Photon Technology & Workholding Systems LLC – Booth 1929 - They offer an innovative, patented adhesive workholding system—ideal for gripping complex or delicate parts without distortion, and enabling full 5- or 6-sided access, even in heavy milling of titanium and superalloys.
• EWS USA/ Command Tooling – Booth 1932 - EWS is a global expert in live and static toolholders and modular machining systems; in North America, they operate through the U.S.-based Command Tooling facility, offering precision solid and rotary toolholders under both brands.
• Jergens Workholding – Booth 1928 - A worldwide leader in custom CNC workholding—including vises, clamps, fixturing systems, and their patented Ball Lock® mounting and Fixture‑Pro® 5-Axis solutions—a go-to for boosting set‑up speed and machining productivity. You can also check out the workholdig in action just across the Aisle in the Innova Machine Tool Booth.  They are featuring Jergens workholding on their WSI WVM380 CNC machine.

(Click each name to add them directly to your show planner.
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Cleveland OH – Jergens introduces its new Washdown Tool, a clever device that provides 360 degrees of spray using coolant flow to wash away chips from exposed surfaces.

The in-between-processes tool is programmed inline (as with any standard tool) after a predetermined number of machining cycles. The Washdown tool provides thorough chip removal from the many exposed surfaces inside the machining area. In turn, this saves time for operators by reducing the time spent cleaning chips from a machine interior, workpiece, or workholding setup.

The unit uses multiple spray nozzles on its circumference, providing a steady and pressurized stream. Each nozzle can be plugged or opened to create customized spray patterns. Added spindle rotation ensures that coolant reaches virtually everywhere inside the machine.

​Residing in the tool changer, and programmed just as any other, the Jergens Washdown Tool is deployed periodically at scheduled intervals. This automation shortens cleaning time and supports long machining cycles, even lights out manufacturing periods when no operator is present.

“Any aspect of the machining process, even something as simple as cleaning chips, that can be made more systematic and repeatable will allow for greater productivity and reduced scrap”, said Mike Antos, Jergens Workholding Product Manager. “The washdown tool is another way of helping them (customers) achieve that”, continued Antos.

​JMI CNC Tooling & Automation is proud to announce the participation of our esteemed principals at IMTS 2024 in Chicago.

​This premier manufacturing technology show, which runs from September 9-14, 2024, will feature innovations and products from leading companies represented by JMI, including Achteck, BRM Brush Research, Blue Photon Workholding, GMN Spindles, Jergens Workholding, MAQ Devibe Tooling, Pratt Burnerd America, and Widen Cutting Tools.

These industry leaders will showcase their latest advancements and solutions, highlighting their commitment to excellence and innovation in the CNC tooling and automation sectors.

Achteck is one of the world's fast growing manufacturers of carbide cutting tools, friction materials, wear resistant items, and civil engineering products.

Brush Research Manufacturing is a leading American manufacturer of premium quality power brushes, twisted-in-wire brushes, and the BRM Flex-Hone Tool. Focused on creating solutions for metal surface finishing, deburring, cleaning and polishing, Brush Research sells products domestically as well as exports products to a global network of distributors.

Blue Photon’s patented workholding products are a manufacturer’s solution to hold parts for tight-tolerance machining and inspection. Blue Photon designs and manufacturers grip technology for complex-shaped, and hard-to-hold parts. Blue Photon grippers are easily installed into fixtures to grip and support the part without the use of mechanical clamps.

GMN USA is the North American Spindle Sales and Service Center for GMN Paul Mueller Industries, a world-wide supplier of high-speed machine tool spindles, high precision bearings, clutches and seals

Jergens Inc is a global manufacturing leader of CNC machining custom workholding products. Today, you'll find their vises, clamps & fixturing systems, tooling components, at work in just about every segment of the metalcutting industry on every continent. And our innovative engineered solutions like the patented Ball Lock®️ Mounting System and Fixture-Pro®️ 5-axis workholding have changed the way manufacturers worldwide think about metalworking productivity.

Pratt Burnerd America is in the business of supplying quality workholding products for CNC Lathes and turning machines throughout North America. They have one of the largest varieties of rotary workholding products in the world, with Power Chucks, Manual Chucks, Collet Chucks, Collets, Special Chucks, Rotating Cylinders, and Workholding Accessories. 

by Bernard Martin

The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) 2024 is just around the corner, and JMI CNC Tooling & Automation is excited to highlight the exceptional innovations our represented companies will showcase at the event.

Taking place from September 9-14 in Chicago, IMTS is the premier platform for exploring the latest advancements in manufacturing technology. As you plan your visit, make sure to stop by the booths of the following JMI-represented companies.

Here's a sneak peek at what you can expect to learn about in each to these booths!

At Achteck America Inc.'s booth you can learn about their broad range range of cutting tools.

Achteck offers both indexable and solid carbide tools designed for turning, milling, drilling, and grooving across materials such as steel, stainless steel, heat-resistant alloys, and more.

With an extensive inventory maintained in Michigan, Achteck stands out for their competitive pricing and ability to meet the needs of both general-purpose and specialized machining tasks, including Swiss tool, heavy-duty turning, and railway wheel turning. Their innovative grooving inserts, milling cutters, and solid carbide drills are perfect for those looking to enhance their productivity and precision in manufacturing operations.

• West Building, Level 3 — 431258 — Tooling & Workholding

At AB Tools booth at IMTS 2024 you can learn about top-quality, USA-made cutting tools that have been trusted by professionals since 1977.

As the home of the renowned Shear Hog®, AB Tools specializes in a range of innovative solutions including indexable dovetails, O-ring grooving tools, keyseat cutters, and precision firearms tooling. With an impressive turnaround time of just 5-6 workdays for custom specials, AB Tools ensures you get exactly what you need, when you need it.

• West Building, Level 3 — 432264 — Tooling & Workholding

Visit Blue Photon’s booth at IMTS 2024 to learn about their unique adhesive workholding solutions, designed to hold parts securely without the distortion that comes from traditional clamping.

Whether you're working with hard-to-hold, easily distorted, or brittle parts, Blue Photon’s technology is the perfect fit, especially for applications in milling, turning, grinding, and more. Their system is ideal for a wide range of industries, including aerospace, medical machining, and optics. Plus, with the ability to integrate zero-point systems, you can automate your workholding processes with unmatched precision.

• West Building, Level 3 — 431446 — Tooling & Workholding

At BRM - Brush Research Manufacturing Co., Inc. at IMTS 2024 to explore their industry-leading solutions for improving surface finishes and deburring.

Known for their Flex-Hone Tools and abrasive brushes, BRM's products are essential for achieving superior surface quality in a wide range of applications. Whether you're working with metals, composites, or other materials, BRM offers tools that enhance performance and extend the life of your components

• North Building, Level 3 — 237148 — Abrasive Machining/Sawing/Finishing

Be sure to visit GMN USA’s booth at IMTS 2024 to learn about their high-performance spindle technology firsthand. Known for their precision and reliability, GMN spindles are designed to meet the demands of high-speed machining across various industries.

Whether you’re involved in aerospace, automotive, or any other field requiring top-notch machining capabilities, GMN’s products can enhance your production efficiency and quality.

• North Building, Level 3 — 237065 — Abrasive Machining/Sawing/Finishing

Visit Jergens' booth at IMTS 2024 to check out their 5 axis machining workholding solutions designed to boost productivity and precision in your machining operations. Jergens will be showcasing their 5CV 130mm self-centering vise, perfect for high-accuracy clamping and ideal for various machining applications.
Additionally, check out their Tooling Columns, which provide robust and flexible workholding options to maximize machine output. Don’t miss the opportunity to get a demo on the Jergens Ball Lock® Mounting System, a quick-change solution that drastically reduces setup times, allowing for fast and repeatable fixture changes.

• West Building, Level 3 — 432154 — Tooling & Workholding

Visit MASA Tool's booth at IMTS 2024 to discover the innovative Microconic™ system, specifically designed for precision workholding in CNC Swiss machining.

This cutting-edge system is ideal for holding workpieces ranging from Ø0.15mm to 10mm (Ø0.006" to 0.390") in any machine with a collet-type chuck.

The Microconic™ system consists of two major components: the Microconic™ cartridge, which replaces standard collets such as 5C, TF15, TF16, TF20, TF25, or TF37 in your CNC machine spindle, and the Microconic™ collet, which fits seamlessly into the Microconic™ cartridge. This setup ensures micron-level accuracy and repeatability, making it perfect for industries that require extreme precision, such as medical devices, aerospace, and watchmaking.

• West Building, Level 3 — 432163 — Tooling & Workholding

Visit Pratt Burnerd America's booth at IMTS 2024 to explore their high-quality lathe chucks, known for delivering unmatched precision and durability. As a trusted name in workholding solutions, Pratt Burnerd offers a wide range of products, including manual, power, and special application chucks that are designed to enhance the performance of your CNC machines. Whether you’re looking for innovative rotary workholding solutions for standard or custom applications, Pratt Burnerd has the expertise and products to meet your needs.

• West Building, Level 3 — 431384 — Tooling & Workholding

Visit Tapmatic’s booth at IMTS 2024 to explore their extensive range of innovative tapping solutions and toolholders designed to optimize your machining processes.

Tapmatic is best known for their high-performance tapping heads, which are engineered to reduce cycle times, enhance thread quality, and significantly extend tool life. But that's not all—Tapmatic also offers cutting-edge tools like the Scribewriter for precise marking, the DeBurr-Z tool for efficient deburring, and the TapWriter Dot Peen Marking tool for robust and permanent part marking. Whether you're in need of tapping solutions or advanced marking and deburring tools, Tapmatic has the expertise and products to elevate your production capabilities.

• West Building, Level 3 — 431246 — Tooling & Workholding

Five-axis machining has built its reputation in the metal manufacturing world through the many advanced machining strategies that are impossible without the additional rotational axes that set it apart.

​However, many manufacturers have found great benefits in 3+2-axis manufacturing techniques, using the rotational axes to reduce setup time. This approach can provide a firm foundation for highly automated machine cells such as the ones I found at Clippard Manufacturing, a Cincinnati-based valve manufacturer and machine shop.
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Clippard began in the 1930s as a manufacturer of radio parts. Its early claim to fame came during World War II, when it manufactured coils for the Allies’ radio-based proximity fuse — one of the most successful weapon technologies developed for the war. Over subsequent decades, the company pivoted to pneumatic valves for various industries, especially the medical industry. More recently, the company has also begun working as a contract manufacturer of medical parts, putting its experience meeting the exacting standards of the medical industry to further use.

The company’s first foray into heavy automation was in its fleet of 20 Swiss-type lathes, which found success working lights-out. Using this success, Manufacturing Engineer Alex Werdman convinced the company to invest in a five-axis Haas UMC 500 SS with a 16-station pallet changer to perform work that had been done on three-axis mills. The company made this investment with the intention of developing lights-out processes for the machine cell, but getting to that point meant investing in more than just the machine tool.

One of the major draws of a five-axis machine was the ability to dramatically reduce setup time by machining multiple faces of parts in a single setup. According to Werdman, the move to the five-axis Haas made the jump to high-mix medical work much easier. “Being able to reach more faces of the part reduced the setup time for secondary operations by a lot,” he says. “Jobs that took 45 minutes per part on a three-axis were down to 27 minutes.” CNC Programmer Kyle Shearer agrees, saying, “I might touch a part 17 times before and only four times now.” However, this strategy relied on workholding that provided the cutting tool as much access to the part’s faces as possible.

At first, Clippard considered using dovetails, but after a conversation with Jergens representatives and distributors, the company opted for vises with modular jaws. “We thought we would have to use dovetails,” Werdman says, “but the vise has enough grip force and clearance to meet our needs.”
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​And did this work pay off? “The Haas proved that five-axis machines were worth it,” Werdman says. “We could get 50 hours a month on the three-axis mills, and with fiveaxis we get 200-300 hours.”

The success of the Haas spurred Clippard to invest further in five-axis machining with a Matsuura MAM72-35V, intended to both increase the volume of parts the company could produce lights-out and improve the precision of its fiveaxis machining.

The Matsuura came standard with a 32-station pallet changer in a condensed footprint, dramatically increasing the capacity for lights-out machining. Like the Haas, it regularly puts in over 200 hours of machining time, mostly performing 3+2-axis machining. It can also pursue more aggressive machining strategies while maintaining the finish needed, as it can maintain a tolerance of ±0.0005 inches.
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Despite being one of the major benefits of five-axis machining, this kind of dramatic increase in capacity and production speed is often overlooked by machine shops. Not all fiveaxis machines produce near-net shapes or large contours, and shops like Clippard have found great success thanks to careful consideration of the machine cell as a whole.

​“The people in charge needed convincing,” Shearer says, “but once they saw how much more we could get done and how quickly we could do it, they were on board.”

Join Jones Marketing at SOUTHTEC 2023 - October 24-26, 2023! 

​We're a premier Manufacturers' Representative Agency will be featuring innovative metal cutting technologies from a distinctive group of high performance tooling & workholding suppliers. Some with no known competitors!

The Southeast is experiencing exceptional growth in areas critical to the economy, such as aerospace, automotive, advanced materials and workforce development – making the region a hotbed for advanced manufacturing.

SOUTHTEC is designed to give manufacturers the means to discover and acquire the tools needed to drive the next evolution of their industry.

SOUTHTEC creates a greater opportunity to engage first-hand with world-class suppliers and identify solutions needed – from development to final production.

Save the date for SOUTHTEC 2023 - October 24-26, 2023.  ​

And don't forget to visit our other partners while you're at the show!
​You can click the links below to add them to your show planner:

• Blue Photon Technology & Workholding Systems LLC  - booth 1934
• GMN USA  - booth 1936
• Jergens -  booth 1928
• ​Tapmatic Corporation & OMG North America - booth 1931

Jack Rushlander from Jergens workholding talks about how advancements in 5 Axis CNC machining technology has changed dramatically in the past 20 years. Dynamic Work Offsets and other capabilities have made workholding easier but also given shops even more opportunities to to improve process and reduce cycle time.

5-axis machining is a game-changer in modern manufacturing, allowing for the creation of complex, precise parts with unparalleled efficiency. By enabling simultaneous movement along five axes, this technology significantly reduces the need for multiple setups, resulting in improved accuracy and faster production cycles. However, while its benefits are transformative, the challenges and considerations associated with 5-axis machining are equally significant.
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One of the most striking advantages of 5-axis machining is its ability to streamline operations. Complex geometries that would traditionally require multiple setups can now be completed in a single run, reducing production time and minimizing the chance of errors. This capability not only enhances precision but also eliminates the need for extensive fixturing and repositioning, leading to higher-quality finishes.

Despite these advantages, adopting 5-axis machining is not without its hurdles. The machines are more complex and expensive than their 3-axis counterparts, requiring substantial investment in both equipment and training. Programming 5-axis operations is also more intricate, demanding advanced software and experienced operators who understand the nuances of tool paths and machine kinematics.

Success in 5-axis machining begins with thorough preparation. Selecting the right tools, understanding the machine's capabilities, and ensuring proper workholding are all critical. Matching the machine’s specifications—such as spindle speed, torque, and material handling capabilities—to the project requirements is equally essential.

Accurate part drawings and the right choice of raw materials lay the foundation for a successful operation. Clear, detailed drawings provide machinists with a reliable guide, while high-quality materials ensure both machining efficiency and final product performance. Tools like dovetail fixtures are particularly valuable for securing workpieces during machining, especially for intricate parts requiring multiple angles.

To maximize efficiency, leveraging tools like SolidWorks to define the machine's work envelope can help visualize part orientation and motion. This approach allows operators to identify potential collisions and optimize tool paths before production begins, saving time and resources.

Collaboration plays a crucial role in 5-axis machining. Consulting with machinists during the planning and programming phases can reveal practical insights and preempt potential issues. Troubleshooting is another vital aspect, addressing challenges such as tool deflection, chatter, and thermal expansion to maintain quality. Engaging additional perspectives—whether from colleagues or external experts—can also lead to valuable refinements in the process.

Lastly, clear and comprehensive communication with CNC programmers ensures that tool paths and machining strategies align with the project's goals. Providing detailed specifications, including geometry, materials, and tooling requirements, is essential for effective programming.

In conclusion, while this article covers key points about 5-axis machining, there’s so much more to learn about the process and its practical applications. For a detailed exploration of this technology, watch the full video below and see how Galactic Widget Company tackles the workholding of a Thingamajig and discover insights that can take your machining expertise to the next level.

• 00:00 - 01:35 Introduction
• 01:35 - 03:50 The Pros of 5-Axis
• 03:50 - 06:20 The Cons of 5-Axis
• 06:30 - 09:36 Process Essentials
• 09:39 - 11:53 The Machine
• 11:55 - 15:40 Part Drawing & Raw Material
• 15:50 - 19:45 When to Use a Dovetail
• 19:46 - 21:35 Start to Finish Operation in Drawings
• 21:36 - 30:38 Work Envelope in Solidworks
• 31:24 - 33:58 Analyze With Your Machinists
• 35:30 - 37:08 Troubleshooting
• 37:18 - 37:56 Getting Other Eyes on Your Project
• 38:00 - 39:40 The Process of Sending Project to Your Programmer
• 39:45 - 49:36 Questions

Jergens Inc. offers fixture plate machining kits and receiver bushing plugs for its line of Ball Lock quick-change mounting systems.
EDITED BY JEDD COLE  Production Editor, Modern Machine Shop​

The machining kits consist of one fixture plate, four extra-long Ball Lock shanks and four spacers that provide clearance between the fixture plate and subplate below. This open space allows cutting tools to “break through” the fixture plate without damaging the subplate, making it possible to machine fixture plates while mounted to the same subplates they will be used with during production, the company says.

The plugs are designed to prevent chips and coolant from accumulating inside receiver bushings that are not in use during certain operations. This saves time by eliminating the need to clean out the bushings between setups. The receiver plugs are made of blue anodized aluminum, providing durability for better resistance to hot chips when compared to plastic plugs.

The flush mount design means the plugs do not protrude above the subplate surface, making it easier to clean and avoiding interference during machining. These plugs are available in standard sizes to accommodate different hole openings and come with an O ring and tapped hole for easy installation.