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Press Release 2008 - Stationary Workholding
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SCHUNK UNILOCK quick-change pallet system offers significant savings potential in the welding shop
25.07.2008 -
The SCHUNK UNILOCK quick-change pallet system can be reliably installed on welding fixtures without an additional ground plane. This was proved in intensive testing carried out by TÜV Süd on behalf of the toolholding and workholding specialist SCHUNK based in Lauffen. Under the harshest conditions the inspectors established that the contact points between the test set-up and quick-change pallet system as well as the clamping points between clamping slide and clamping bolt withstand the welding process. By passing this test the SCHUNK UNILOCK quick-change pallet system can also significantly reduce the set-up costs in the welding shop both now and in the future.
Set-up cost savings of up to 90 percent
Quick-change pallet systems are considered to be highly effective in reducing set-up times. With small batches and great diversity of workpieces, significant cost advantages – of up to 90 percent – can be achieved. Workpiece, fixtures and clamping devices can be quickly and precisely positioned, mounted and clamped on quick-change pallet systems in a single step. They drastically shorten the set-up times and are a decisive factor when it comes to cost savings in the process chain. With its standardized interface and great diversity of variants, SCHUNK UNILOCK takes a top position among the quick-change pallet systems. The costs of the system usually pay for themselves in a very short period of time.
Modules guarantee secure holding in the welding shop
The compatibility test carried out by TÜV Süd with a tandem welding robot from Carl Cloos Schweißtechnik GmbH showed that the temperature on the module in the vicinity of the clamping bolts and the workpiece support pallet is entirely within a non-critical range. The voltage drop on the quick-change pallet system proves that, within the system, there is no elevated electrical resistance and the electrical contacting is large enough to transfer the welding current. The SCHUNK UNILOCK quick-change pallet system can therefore be installed in the welding shop without additional ground plate.
Well thought-out geometry of the system is decisive
The reason lies in the special geometry of the SCHUNK quick-change pallet system. In contrast to other systems clamping slides arranged in a radial layout lock the clamping bolts here, thus ensuring adequate contact. The interlocking is effected mechanically using a spring package and is self-locking and form-fitting. Holding forces of up to 75,000 N are achieved. The repeat accuracy is < 0.005 mm. The workpieces themselves remain securely clamped even if the pressure in the air system should suddenly drop. To unlock the clamping modules, a system pressure of 6 bar as present in every compressed air system is sufficient. SCHUNK UNILOCK becomes a real set-up time killer due to its standardized interface: The single clamping bolt size means that the workpiece can effectively be moved in a flying changeover from machine to machine, from module to module, from machining to machining.
With the SCHUNK UNILOCK NSE 138-W module, SCHUNK now provides a solution that also guarantees consistency of the system in the welding shop.
TÜV tests the system under the harshest of operating conditions
The trials were carried out with three different clamping bolt types of the quick-change pallet system. A robot welded 20 welding tracks of 93 cm each in each trial. Two GLC 403 Quinto multifunction welding current sources from Cloos were used as the welders. A welding voltage of 32.0 – 35.5 V and welding current of 578 - 620 A were used. The wire feed rate was 14.10 mm/min with a gas flow rate 28.3 l/min inert gas Corgon 92 % Argon 8 % CO2. To simulate tolerances, additional spacers were placed between the clamping bolts and support pallet to produce an air gap that would have favoured erosion during the two-day endurance test.
 SCHUNK UNILOCK
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