written and edited by Bernard Martin

Mate Precision Technologies may be a new name to some folks in the tooling and workholding industry, but Mate has decades of machining experience producing precision, high quality steel products for customers around the world.

Mate created a new standard in Rotary Toolholders decades ago when they introduced the Command Toolholder brand that set a new bar by holding an AT3 taper tolerance.  Mate then moved into Punch Press Tooling, Press Brake and Laser Tooling and has become the world leader in each of those markets. Using this knowledge, Mate set out about 7 years ago to design and develop the ultimate workholding system.

The Mate 52/96 zero point workholding system maximizes holding power in a compact, quick change modular design that reduces setup time and process variability. It is ideal for 3-, 4- and 5-axis machining centers. Going beyond machining, it can be used in a variety of applications such as inspection, CMM, cleaning, washing, assembly and additive manufacturing.

Their zero point 52/96 workholding system is compatible with similar systems, including 52mm and 96mm four post pull stud configurations from Lang, Jergens, 5th Axis, Gerardi and others. The vises also accept a single pull stud configuration for compatibility with Schunk, Big Daishowa and others. By using the appropriate adapter, Mate 52/96 zero point vises are easily modified to work with systems from SMW, Erowa, System 3R and others. It is perhaps the most well thought out and versatile system on the market today.

With an eye to factory automation, the Mate 52/96 zero point workholding system includes QuickSpecsTM, a unique QR code based product identification system that provides real-time access to product information and potential integration into your business systems. The system also supports common robotic interfaces and palletizing systems.

Mate has truly taken the best-of-breed approach in the development of their DynoGrip 52/96 vises by capturing all of the state-of-the-art features offered by competitors, improved on them, and then bundled them in the most feature rich, robust system on the market today. And it's all done by machinists for machinists.  

In the video below, Mate Latin America Regional Sales Manager Benjamin Harrison discusses the Mate 52/96 Workholding System.   Ben provides a detailed look at the key product features that show how Mate Workholding is designed to be the industry's most accurate and repeatable zero point workholding systems on the market. Filmed by MTD CNC  at IMTS 2022 in Chicago.

Blue Photon’s grippers are inserted into new external inserts, designed specifically for the Grip Pallets. The external inserts are available for use with small, medium and large grippers. The new inserts allow for simple installation of the grippers at the required height for maximum holding power.

The 150-mm square pallet is available in aluminum and steel with a 52-mm pattern for a quick change receiver that will hold up to nine grippers. The 225-mm square pallet is available in aluminum and steel with a 96-mm pattern for a quick change receiver that will hold up to 21 grippers. The 300-mm square pallet is available in aluminum with a 96-mm pattern for a quick change receiver that will hold up to 33 grippers.
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Each Grip Pallet includes two handles with multiple color choices and four spacers, with a 25.4-mm standoff that allows for the recommended nominal of 1-mm joint thickness between gripper and part.

​Optional clamp studs are available for both 52 mm and 96 mm patterns for 5th axis, Jergens, Lang and Mate systems. Part can be removed with a ¼ turn twist of the gripper or hot-water soak. Residual adhesive is removed by using a handheld steamer or a hot-water soak and a light peeling action.

Check out these details and more from the IMTS video below.

It's that time of year for IMTS!

​Here's a preview of some of the products that are going to be featured during the International Manufacturing Technology Show September 12-17.  You can see all of these new products and talk to the manufacturers in the Tooling & Workholding Systems Pavilion in the West Building Level 3. 

Supermini Set. Horn USA is featuring the Supermini tool holder system with face clamping as a set, in response to customer requests for different tooling system heights. With this holder variant, clamping is not carried out via the lateral surface of the cutting insert but via a clamping wedge on the face. This results in a greater holding force on the insert and thus high rigidity of the entire system. This increases repeatability when changing the insert and provides better utilization of the available space. This is a big time saver on Swiss-type lathes, as the user can change the cutting insert without removing the tool holder.

New carbide grades for system DAH8 - Horn USA is expanding its range of carbide grades for its DAH milling system to enable its use for machining a wider range of materials. The new grades SC6A and IG6B complement the tool system for high-feed milling. The SC6A grade is suitable for machining the ISO M material group, as well as ISO S materials as a secondary application. Horn has developed the IG6B grade for machining the ISO P group, while it is also suitable as a multipurpose grade for other material groups.

If you would like to learn more about any of these products or to see a demonstration, get in contact with us and we'll set up some time with you to visit your shop!

Edited by JENNY RUSH, Senior Managing Editor, Modern Machine Shop

Blue Photon’s grippers are inserted into new external inserts, designed specifically for the Grip Pallets. The external inserts are available for use with small, medium and large grippers. The new inserts allow for simple installation of the grippers at the required height for maximum holding power.

The 150-mm square pallet is available in aluminum and steel with a 52-mm pattern for a quick change receiver that will hold up to nine grippers. The 225-mm square pallet is available in aluminum and steel with a 96-mm pattern for a quick change receiver that will hold up to 21 grippers. The 300-mm square pallet is available in aluminum with a 96-mm pattern for a quick change receiver that will hold up to 33 grippers.
​
Each Grip Pallet includes two handles with multiple color choices and four spacers, with a 25.4-mm standoff that allows for the recommended nominal of 1-mm joint thickness between gripper and part.

​Optional clamp studs are available for both 52 mm and 96 mm patterns for 5th axis, Jergens, Lang and Mate systems. Part can be removed with a ¼ turn twist of the gripper or hot-water soak. Residual adhesive is removed by using a handheld steamer or a hot-water soak and a light peeling action. 

Increase your factory productivity with the next generation 52/96 workholding system of vises, bases and mounts from Mate Precision Technologies.

A zero-point system, Mate 52/96 workholding is compatible with similar systems, including 52mm and 96mm four post pull stud configurations from Lang, Jergens, 5th Axis, Gerardi and others.

This new line maximizes holding power and offers best-in-class accuracy and repeatability. Mate’s quick change design reduces setup time and process variability. Watch the video to see how fast you can install and remove a Mate DynoGrip™ vise to a Mate DynoLock™ base. Make the switch to more productive and efficient workholding.

A New Era for Workholding
Leveraging nearly six decades of machining Mate’s workholding line offers an impressive selection of options: 

• Mate DynoGrip™ self-centering vises feature maximum holding power in a compact system with minimal part movement and zero-point quality engagement with a four-post pull stud pattern.
• Mate DynoLock™ quick change bases provide zero-point quality engagement with a four-post stud pattern and best-in-class center accuracy and repeatability.
• Mate DynoMount™ system includes tombstones, pyramids, risers, and dual right-angle mounts that feature zero-point quality engagement for four-point stud patterns.

The Mate 52/96 workholding system includes QuickSpecs™, Mate’s unique product identification system. QuickSpecs allows real-time access to critical user data, CAD models and potential integration into business systems. Additionally, the product supports common robotic interfaces and palletizing systems to support factory automation.

This new line is designed and manufactured with Mate’s renowned performance standards for best-in-class accuracy and repeatability. The workholding system is backed by the company’s sophisticated technical support, unsurpassed product quality, responsive customer service, and 100-percent satisfaction guarantee. Learn more online:  mate.com/products/workholding.
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The workholding announcement comes shortly after Mate changed its corporate name to Mate Precision Technologies to reflect the company's broader commitment to metalworking and using its expertise to drive innovations to shape the future of factory productivity. In describing the name change Sundquist commented, “It truly supports our mission statement, which focuses on improving our customers’ factory productivity, and we are now better positioned to extend our skills and technologies to other markets like the metal cutting and machining industry.”