Assessing The Security Of Magnetic Workholding

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Resistance to the implementation of magnetic work holding typically begins using a concern for security. These issues can be allayed by assessing the technology, holding power and optimal operating circumstances of magnetic operate holding when it comes to operational safety.

In spite of the competitive teco workholding positive aspects of magnetic workholding in decreasing costs and enhancing productivity, there still exists a resistance towards the implementation of magnetic technologies as the key function holder in machining operations. This resistance ordinarily starts with a concern for safety. By assessing the technologies, holding energy and optimal operating conditions of magnetic perform holding relative to operational safety, these concerns could be allayed.

Magnetic Operate Holding as a Secure Technology

If a machine operator has held workpieces with mechanical clamps for decades, the concept of relying on magnetism to hold workpieces, in particular in heavy milling operations, boils down to a problem of trust: Is this really secure? Even though understandable this opinion is rooted in subjectivity not objective fact. More than likely, people who hold this point of view may not completely realize the information of how safe magnetic operate holding is.

So, how can magnetic perform holding be considered as a safe technology? By definition, it produces a uniform, constant, and infinite holding power that does not relax, give, or lower until an operator de-energizes it.

Generally, magnetic operate holders are constructed with an array of person magnets embedded into a magnetic chuck or plate. Every magnet has a north and south pole across which flows magnetic power named flux. When a workpiece is placed across the poles of these magnets, flux flows into it. When placed in this flux field, a magnetic field of opposite polarity is induced into the workpiece thereby generating a magnetic attraction amongst the chuck plus the workpiece. This attraction will remain consistent, uniform, infinite, and trusted provided that the magnetic field is energized. This reliability tends to make magnetic workholding a definitely protected technology.

Magnetic Function Holding as a Safe Holding Force

Holding power or strength is a different factor viewed as when forming an opinion about the safety of magnetic workholding. If an operator doesn't know how sturdy magnetic workholding is, he might mistakenly believe magnetic technology isn't strong sufficient to do the job safely. This opinion could be allayed by two information:

(1) magnetic workholding can have a clamping energy as much as 1000 daN and

(2) based upon the application, an instantaneous clamping force of 12 tons per square foot could be generated by magnetic workholders. This amount of holding force is more than comparable to mechanical clamps with one particular added benefit: magnetic holding force is uniform, constant and infinite till the operator de-energizes it.

Optimal Operating Situations

To implement magnetic operate holding options may possibly require some education to know the technology's optimal operating conditions. As an example, magnetic perform holding is most effective made use of with smooth-surfaced workpieces as an alternative to rough ones simply because the smoothness decreases the air gap amongst the workpiece plus the magnet; compact air gaps increase magnetic attraction plus the holding bond. Some materials are superior conductors of magnetism than other folks. By way of example, annealed materials are perfect whilst hardened components don't absorb flux as conveniently and will retain some magnetism. This condition can be corrected within seconds with demagnetization. Finally, the direction with the holding force is yet a different adjustment an operator might have to create to safely implement magnetic work holding. All magnets have one hundred percent clamping force straight away from the face of your magnet, but only about 20 percent clamping force against side forces. So, the geometry of a cut have to be regarded as within the machining approach to reap the advantages of this type of workholding.