Cambridge-based Prior Scientific (www.prior-scientific.co.uk) makes a wide range of scientific instrumentation, including optical microscopes and microscope automation.

The company uses its Matsuura and Mazak machine tools to manufacture components that are delivered directly to its assembly department, so precision and quality in the machine shop are critical.

Components are made from a range of materials that include brass, aluminium, stainless steel and PTFE; and to ensure that parts are gripped “with sensitivity and precision, while generating optimum clamping forces”, the company uses the Spanntop work-holding system from Cannock-based Hainbuch UK (www.hainbuch.com).

Prior’s relationship with Hainbuch dates back over a decade, when the company specified Hainbuch collet chucks for a Gildemeister twin-spindle turning centre, which was recently replaced by a new Mazak QT250 twin-spindle turning centre with C and Y axes and a one-hit machining capability.

Machine shop manager Roberta Harder says: “We manufacture parts from a range of materials, diameters and lengths, with quantities varying from five up to 200-plus.

"With frequent change-overs, we need a quick-change system that allows us to switch from a variety of collet diameters — up to 65mm — to clamping larger billets when necessary.”

For Prior’s new Mazak bar-fed turning centre, Hainbuch recommended its Spanntop collet chuck with the addition of its jaw module and mandrel system.

By specifying the additional modules, Prior can change from a collet chuck configuration to a three-jaw chuck — capable of clamping billets up to 215mm in diameter — in just 30sec.