New system for shrink-fit tooling available in UK

The new Kemmler KSG600 conveniently houses inductive heating and air cooling in one highly controllable workstation

A new shrink-fit unit housing inductive heating and air cooling in one workstation for convenient, high-precision has been introduced by Kemmler Präzisionswerkzeuge, southern Germany, whose products are available in the UK and Irish markets under a recent sole agency agreement with Wiltshire-based Gewefa UK. The KSG600 reflects Kemmler’s continued focus on process reliability, user-oriented design and digital integration in modern machining environments.

Shrink-fit technology has long been valued for its ability to deliver exceptional concentricity and rigidity, as well as extended tool life, but the quality of the result depends heavily on precise thermal control. Accordingly, with its latest system Kemmler has placed temperature management at the centre of the process. Designed for carbide and high-speed-steel tools from 3 to 32mm in diameter and up to 490mm long, the next-generation, highly controllable shrink-fit technology is aimed at manufacturers that demand repeatably accurate clamping, reduced set-up times and maximum operational safety.

The KSG600 is designed around a single-touch operating concept, whereby three preprogrammed, energy-efficient cycles can be activated at the press of a button. It reduces dependency on the operator and minimises the risk of handling errors. Through WLAN or Ethernet connectivity, users can access real-time status information, configure individual parameters and monitor the system remotely, aligning the unit with the requirements of digitally networked production environments and Industry 4.0 strategies.

Designed to deliver consistent results irrespective of a user’s skill level or toolholder type, the compact unit is equipped with the company’s intelligent SafeControl technology, which continuously monitors the inductive heating process in real time. By detecting exactly when the shrink-fit holder has reached its optimal temperature, SafeControl automatically stops the heating cycle and instigates uniform and controlled temperature reduction in typically two to 3min, eliminating the risk of overheating and protecting both toolholder and cutting tool.

Toolholding ecosystems
By means of built-in sensors and smart software, the input power of between 7 and 16 kW generated by a 400V/16A/50Hz supply is automatically matched to the toolholder’s mass and geometry. It means that the system can precisely regulate the inductive heating cycle regardless of holder type, a significant advantage for job shops and production facilities running mixed inventories of back-ends. Adapters cover numerous interfaces, including SK, BT and CAT 40 and 50, HSK 63 and 100, as well as Capto C6, allowing seamless integration into a wide range of toolholding ecosystems, whether for machining centres or multi-tasking turning centres, or both.

Stop rod sets and cooling tubes with depth adjustment allow fast, precise and repeatable setting of shrink depth. Adapter rings and interchangeable, one-piece ferrite discs extend compatibility across a broad spectrum of interfaces and tool diameters, while ensuring effective magnetic field shielding during induction heating. For applications requiring organised handling of multiple toolholders, a box with integrated fans provides additional storage and simultaneous air-cooling for up to five holders, helping to streamline tool logistics on the shopfloor.

Nicole Lloyd-Foxe, Gewefa UK’s managing director, concluded: “We are delighted to announce our new relationship with Kemmler, which dovetails neatly with shrink-fit products manufactured by another German firm, Rineck, which we have represented in Britain and Ireland for decades. Dual-sourcing this type of equipment expands our ability to provide high-quality tooling at the right price and means that our customers now have access to a broader range of shrink-fit machines and back-ends to suit their applications and budget.”