Positioning and fixing components securely

This was the case with an order that the Bielefeld-based company Glossform completed in 2020 according to a customer's specifications. With the modular 5-axis module clamping system from Kipp, however, the challenge was easily overcome. The flexibility and precision of the modules made a lasting impression.

"We manufacture turned and milled parts from stainless steel, steel, light metals and plastics according to customer specifications," says Nikolai Schmidt, Managing Director of Glossform. "All orders are produced from a single source in our modern production hall." Welding, development and design services as well as the care and maintenance of injection molds are also part of the portfolio of the Bielefeld-based company, which was founded in 2012.

Flexible clamping with high precision

To ensure a high level of quality and adherence to deadlines, Glossform maintains a comprehensive range of machinery, including a 5-axis machine for simultaneous milling. The components that are machined on this machine are completely different depending on the customer - most recently, railroad technology components for points and brake systems as well as train parts were produced here as part of a larger order. There were two challenges here, as Nikolai Schmidt recalls: "On the one hand, the unusual contours of the components made it very difficult to fix them on the machine table. On the other hand, the highest safety requirements had to be met, especially in the field of railroad technology. This means that the tolerances must be adhered to precisely during machining."

Not an easy situation to start with - but the Glossform team received help in solving the problem, as the responsible field service employee from HEINRICH Kipp WERK was on site in Bielefeld. "Glossform mainly purchases standard and operating parts from us, such as ball lock pins, eccentric levers or handles, which are installed in customer-specific modules," explains Pascal Kretschmer from Kipp. "However, when Nikolai Schmidt described the project to me, I was able to contribute our expertise. I suggested using our modular 5-axis module clamping system 50 here."

Modular design for a wide range of combinations

The zero-point clamping system from Kipp is designed for complete machining in a single clamping operation. It guarantees maximum precision: while machine vices often have to be re-clamped, the columns of the 5-axis modular system allow optimum accessibility from all sides. This reduces set-up costs, allows the use of standard tools and increases accuracy. Thanks to the variable structure and the large number of modules, users can assemble and recombine the system individually. More than 70 elements are available, including basic and add-on modules as well as accessories. In combination, they guarantee the realization of a wide range of heights, docking to interfaces and the processing of various complex workpieces.

Simple operation, optimum function

Glossform used two basic modules for double clamping and clamping bolts in the challenging application. "The system made it possible to lift the entire component off the table with just two holes in the part," says Nikolai Schmidt. "We were therefore able to machine it directly from five sides and maintain all tolerances precisely." The one-handed handling surprised and impressed the Managing Director of Glossform - in an application where he would normally have worked with a tension of 70 to 100 Nm, a manually generated force of just 10 Nm was sufficient here. "During commissioning, the Kipp sales representative was on hand to help us so that nothing could go wrong," says Nikolai Schmidt. "Nevertheless, I was unsure during the first machining process whether the clamping force would really be sufficient. It speaks volumes for Kipp's expertise that this system is so simple and yet so safe and precise."

Quick changeover and flexible connection

Thanks to their simple operation, the modules also allow for quick changeovers, which in turn means cost savings for Glossform - after all, time is money. During operation, the employees can fix the components to be processed without having to reposition them. Nevertheless, the zero-point clamping system guarantees high repeat accuracy. New configurations or other clamping points can also be implemented quickly. The latter is particularly important for a company like Glossform, which is constantly processing new components.