Advantages
In summary, Collet-Lok systems provide these advantages:
- The speed, power, compactness, accuracy, and repeatability of hydraulics.
- The security of static mechanical clamping for unlimited time intervals.
- Hydraulic source can be removed. Parts can be clamped in fixtures and pallets and then set aside for any length of time.
- Low volume or emergency items can be clamped and ready to go, reducing turnaround time.
Investing in a Collet-Lok system can pay handsome dividends. The low short-term cost of labor-intensive methods may be tempting, but think of the countless analogies. For example, if you were a paving contractor and had to regularly break up considerable amounts of old pavement, would you buy sledge hammers for your crew, or would you invest in a hydraulic or pneumatic jack hammer setup?
| Next Month: Issue #05 Positioning Cylinders |  | The first step in the 3-2-1 workholding process is positioning the workpiece properly on the fixture. Improper positioning can make the best support and clamping techniques useless and even dangerous. In the next issue, Enerpac University will present the basic concepts behind positioning a workpiece, and how this fits into the complete workholding procedure. EU will also explore the many different types of hydraulic cylinders available for the task of positioning and the key advantages of each style. |
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