Sales of work-holding solutions increasing

Well known for its cutting-tool technology, Sheffield-based WNT (UK) Ltd (www.wnt.de/en-en/) is also a leading supplier of technical work-holding solutions. Moreover, the company says it is seeing a marked increase in demand for these products.

Two recent additions to the WNT work-holding range are the H5G and the ESG Mini series of vices. These two systems sit at opposite ends of the scale, with the H5G system offering clamping forces of up to 40kN and, depending on the configuration, a gripping width of up to 499mm.

The ESG Mini is designed for smaller components; it has a maximum gripping force of 12kN and is particularly suitable for multiple clamping set-ups using zero-point pallets.

A key feature of the H5G series is its pre-set clamping-force capability, which eliminates the possibility of over- or under-tightening the component, making the vice ideal for a wide range of components from heavy-duty to thin-walled. To lock and unlock the vice the mechanism only needs to be moved through an arc of 160deg, so clamping can be completed in under 1sec; and with a height of just 125mm, it is suitable for use on smaller machines.

The ESG Mini series features a 40mm jaw width as standard, with 100mm as an option. The jaws offer a variety of features that help with machine/component set-up; these include precision-ruled marks and stops, as well as indentations that allow quick positioning of components and also facilitate the removal and repositioning of components for inspection part of the way through machining.

Furthermore, the fixed jaw on the ESG Mini is manufactured from the same block of material as the vice base for optimised strength and resistance to deflection, and the clamping mechanism can be specified as a manual or hydraulic
system. Both systems feature tenon or zero-point location points.