Streamlining productivity on a machining centre has been made easier with the arrival of the Midaco manual pallet changing system in the UK.

This cost-effective system can be integrated into virtually any machining centre to improve its up-time and spindle usage rates while at the same time reducing the users costs.

With decades of expertise in fast-change pallet systems, USA-based Midaco has developed its latest range of adaptable pallet systems that are available in the UK from Hyfore Workholding, a leading automation, workholding and integration specialist.

The Midaco manual pallet interface incorporates a compact shuttle with telescopic legs that can be adapted to fit all machine tools, including machines with swarf and coolant systems. Sitting on the guide rails are a receiver and pallet with precision retention studs to guarantee positional accuracy in the machine tool while an ‘easy-flip’ cast iron handle precisely locks the pallet onto the receiver.

As the low-profile receiver does not require an air supply, it is extremely versatile and compatible with vertical, horizontal and special-purpose machine tools.

By creating a uniform pallet system outside the work envelope, the Midaco pallet changer enables operators to load, unload, inspect components and set up jobs while the alternative pallet is in the machine processing components.

For batch, production and repeat components, this dedicated solution offers significantly improved production times while the uniform pallet configuration can easily be interchanged between machine tools or even departments.

Manufacturers can also opt for Midaco’s front-loading ‘side-by-side’ shuttle pallet system that is supplied with one cast-iron pneumatically powered receiver or cast aluminium pallets and one ‘side-by-side’ shuttle interface that allows the operator to switch pallets in seconds.

With this system, the operator simply activates the pneumatically powered receiver that mounts to the machine table and clamps the pallet. This completed pallet can be rolled out of the machine to the shuttle and the next pallet can be quickly rolled into the machine and clamped in seconds.

The manual pallet system is available in a range of variations that include pallet sizes from 406 x 356mm to the largest pallet size of 1,829 x 762mm. Meanwhile, the floor area can vary from 1,905 x 508mm to 5,842 x 864mm with the entire system completely configurable to the machine tool and floor area requirements of the end-user.

Hyfore Workholding can also supply standard and specialist workholding solutions as well as bespoke workholding, clamping and automation systems.

With an internal team of design engineers and a ‘state of the art’ manufacturing facility, Hyfore has a team of 30 engineers that can go above and beyond a customer’s requirements to engineer, implement and prove out a workholding, fixturing, jig or clamping system and even automate a solution to meet the exact needs of an individual business.