Defined clamping force for high-precision components

Hellmerich Precision Components benefits from the advantages of the iJaw from Röhm

Higher machine availability, lower part costs, greater safety during machining and comprehensive documentation of measurement data. The new sensorized iJaw clamping jaw from Röhm has all these benefits. The specialist for precision tools, Hellmerich Precision Components (HPC), in Seeboden on Lake Millstatt in Carinthia (Austria), has now confirmed that the iJaw fulfils the promises made by clamping and gripping specialist Röhm in practice.

At Hellmerich, the new iJaw from Röhm is part of the original equipment of the new CTX beta 1250 TC complete turning and milling machining center from DMG MORI. “Initially, I was very skeptical as to whether the clamping force could actually be measured, documented and monitored in real-time as described,” says Manuel Pleschberger, Production Manager at HPC. In the meantime, he and his team are not only convinced, but delighted: “Thanks to the iJaw, we can clamp and produce with absolute process reliability. We have been able to drastically reduce rejects in production – in some cases by up to ten percent – and the reworking of the workpieces that was often necessary in the past is now largely a thing of the past. In addition to process reliability, this also increases our productivity.”

High-precision components for machine tools

Hellmerich Precision Components manufactures high-precision components in Seeboden, such as multi-spindle heads, disc and crown turrets as well as many other types of special machining units, tool changing systems and driven tools for machine tools, which are used in high-end production lines in the automotive industry, among others.

Hazardous deformation averted

“The biggest challenges we face in production are with very thin-walled components. Up to now, we have not been able to track the clamping pressure here. This is now possible with the iJaw. This means we can always work with a clearly defined clamping pressure. This is a great advantage, especially for follow-up orders, because thanks to the iJaw we have absolute process reliability in the production process from the very first component and do not run the risk of a workpiece becoming deformed,” says Pleschberger.

No more reworking

Productivity has also increased at HPC thanks to the smart clamping jaw from Röhm. With components made of soft aluminum material, Pleschberger and his team had problems with clamping marks on the components. “This is no longer the case with the iJaw, as we can work precisely with a defined clamping pressure. This also saves us this reworking,” says the production manager.

Game-changer in metalworking

Gerhard Glanz, CEO of Röhm GmbH, is delighted with the positive feedback from the customer: “The aim of us and our development partners such as DMG MORI is to provide professionals with the best tools for their demanding metalworking tasks. As the example at HPC in Seeboden shows, the iJaw with its sensor technology is the game changer in production.”

This is how the iJaw works: The forces introduced are detected by an integrated sensor and the data is processed accordingly. The iJaw measures not only the actually applied forces of the internal and external clamping but also its own temperature. The charging status of the battery is also always displayed. In addition to displaying the clamping pressure data, Manuel Pleschberger and his team can also monitor the efficiency of the power chuck. The iJaw measures in real-time during machining. For this purpose, it has a suitably robust hardened steel and waterproof (IP 68) design.

About Röhm GmbH:

Röhm GmbH, with its headquarters in Sontheim an der Brenz (Baden-Württemberg) and production sites in Dillingen (Bavaria) and St. Georgen (Black Forest), specializes in the development, design, and manufacture of high-precision, robust and durable clamping and gripping devices. The products are "Made in Germany." Röhm's clamping and gripping devices are used worldwide by almost all renowned manufacturers in the automotive industry, railroad technology, watches, medical technology, power engineering as well as in woodworking. Röhm also manufactures special clamping devices and handling equipment for use in cleanrooms in accordance with cleanroom class ISO 7.

Röhm has its own subsidiaries in France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Poland, the UK, the USA, China, and Mexico. Founded in 1909, the company quickly became known worldwide for its drill chucks. To this day, Röhm develops and manufactures drill chucks at the Sontheim location that are used worldwide by almost all manufacturers on stationary as well as hand-operated electric tools for screwing and drilling.

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