A Twin Station Pallet Changer moves setup work off the machine table and onto a bench, so the spindle keeps cutting while the next job is prepared. Supplied to job shops running mixed batches, this Twin Station Pallet Changer is configured with a vacuum grid with sealed zones. zero point clamping with modular workholding and tombstone fixtures is carried out on equipment that holds repeatability within 0.005 mm across a full shift, not only on a first piece.
Tolerance is applied where it does work rather than across the whole drawing. Critical features are held to repeatability within 0.005 mm, non-critical dimensions follow the general machining tolerance, and the difference is stated in the quotation rather than discovered later.
Specification
| Process | Zero point clamping with modular workholding and tombstone fixtures |
|---|---|
| Material / configuration | a vacuum grid with sealed zones |
| Size / capacity | pallet sizes from 320 to 800 mm |
| Tolerance | repeatability within 0.005 mm |
| Surface finish | hardened and ground locating surfaces |
| Application | twin station pallet changer for job shops running mixed batches |
| Inspection | Dimensional report, material certificate, first article report on request |
| Lead time | 7–15 working days for samples, 3–4 weeks for production |
| Minimum order | 1 piece for prototypes, from 50 pieces for production pricing |
Manufacturing process
Work is carried out with zero point clamping with modular workholding and tombstone fixtures. Tooling, speeds and fixturing are recorded with the part number, so a repeat order starts from a proven process instead of a fresh setup.
Material is purchased against a certificate and checked on receipt, so the composition is known before any cutting starts. Work in progress is identified by part number and operation, and the finished parts are deburred, cleaned and protected before they leave the machine area.
Typical applications
Most of the work supplied in this category falls into the following examples.
- Holding multiple small parts in one cycle.
- Machining five faces of a housing.
- Repeat batches on retained fixtures.
- Inspecting and re-loading without re-indicating.
- Heavy roughing with rigid clamping.
Quality control and documentation
Critical features are measured on calibrated equipment in a controlled room, and the results are filed with the job so that a repeat order can be compared with the first.
Material certificates to EN 10204 3.1, dimensional reports and first article inspection reports are issued with the shipment where the application requires them. Calibration dates and measurement uncertainty are recorded alongside every result.
Ordering, lead time and packaging
Packaging is specified by the part: individual protection for finished surfaces, separation for assemblies, and export crating with a packing list for shipment.
Frequently asked questions
How much setup time does zero point clamping save?
Changeovers typically fall from 45 minutes to under 5, because the part is located by the receiver rather than indicated on the table, and the next fixture is built while the machine runs.
Is the repeatability good enough for tight parts?
Quality systems repeat within about 0.005 mm, which is sufficient to remove and re-load a part mid-process without re-establishing datums.
What file formats do you need for a quotation?
STEP or IGES for the 3D model and a PDF drawing with tolerances, material and surface finish called out. Native files from SolidWorks, Creo or Inventor are also accepted.
Drawings are reviewed for manufacturability before quotation, and any feature that adds cost without adding function is pointed out at that stage rather than after the parts are made.
