The Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) facility in Rathcoole, South Dublin, has recently installed a new Doosan Puma 2600SY II turning centre with workholding technology supplied by Hainbuch at the heart of the new installation.

IMR on the outskirts of Dublin was established in 2014, borne out of an industry-led initiative that was initially formed in 2010 to pilot a new research model in Ireland.

Developed as an independent applied-research centre to act as a conduit between academia and industry, the organisation is a leading manufacturing Research & Technology Organisation (RTO) with laboratories and industrial pilot lines in Dublin and Mullingar.

IMR works with leading global and indigenous brands to ‘demystify and de-risk’ new and emerging technologies to deliver high-impact collaborative research.

With additive manufacturing (AM) technology from Carbon 3D, EOS and Renishaw alongside automation from Kuka and Universal Robotics as well as machine tools from Hermle, and now the Doosan machine supplied by Leamington Spa-based www.millscnc.com Mills CNC, the IMR is certainly at the ‘cutting edge’ of technology.

The new Doosan Puma 2600SY II is a 10in chuck multi-tasking lathe with Hainbuch collet chucks specified on both the main and sub-spindle.

To optimise productivity, flexibility and ease of use for the IMR, Mills CNC supplied the machine with a Hydrafeed servo-driven bar feeder, Filtermist extraction, Renishaw optical workpiece inspection probe, an LNS swarf conveyor system and an FSE filtration system.

However, it is the Hainbuch collet chucks that are really taking flexibility to a new level for users at the research facility. Working in collaboration with Mills CNC, Hainbuch installed its SPANNTOP mini quick-change dead-length chucks on both spindles of the Doosan machine with an 80mm chuck on the main spindle and a 52mm system on the sub-spindle.

The SPANNTOP mini incorporates a chuck with a dismountable end-stop plate that ensures precision workpiece clamping without the pull-back effect. It permits the quick change-over from outside to inside diameter clamping or three-jaw clamping through the flexibility of the modular system.

When asked about the Hainbuch system, IMR’s Machining Applications Specialist Chris Judge indicated “to be able to demonstrate the full technical capability of the Doosan Puma you need to be using the best workholding and tooling systems available so we were delighted to see Hainbuch system selected.”

The SPANNTOP mini is the perfect partner for turning centres with its innovative design that significantly reduces interference contours and improves tool accessibility which is ideal for limited space work envelopes. With a compact design and a lower mass than alternate systems, the SPANNTOP mini minimises inertia loss when compared to three-jaw chucks.

The dead-length variant installed on the Puma machine converts to a fully functional ‘bar chuck’ when the end-stop plate is removed. Providing workpiece clamping without axial movement of the clamping head, the SPANNTOP mini clamps workpieces with a short collar or shoulder, even providing part pick-off without the pull-back effect which is ideal for this twin-spindle turning centre.

Hainbuch UK supplied the SPANNTOP mini complete with machine adaptions, changing guns and a complement of 10 clamping heads on each spindle for holding a complete variety of components.

Hainbuch UK managing director Nick Peter said: “We work closely with Mills CNC as well as most machine tool vendors, our close relationships ensure we provide the exact solution for the needs of the end-user.

“With regard to the installation of the SPANNTOP mini on the Doosan Puma 2600SY II at IMR, we have installed a solution that provides an unparalleled level of clamping flexibility with secure high-clamping forces for machining any component or material that is put on the machine.

“The SPANNTOP mini is perfect for the medical industry and we are hoping that having this system at a leading research centre will showcase our system in Ireland to this continually expanding market. We already have a substantial level of enquires for ‘add-on’ mandrels for the chucks to do specific research jobs.”