Polygonal Toolholders from HPCHOLeader Chuck Systems used MACH 2026 to highlight a range of workholding and toolholding solutions, presenting technology from partners FIAL, HPCHO GmbH and Lexair to UK manufacturers.
Taking centre stage on the stand was a FIAL steady rest, illustrating the company’s approach to maintaining machining stability across a wide range of applications. Designed to support rotating workpieces, the steady rest prevents oscillation, wobble and vibration during machining, ensuring that components remain true to centreline and are produced in line with specification.
The system offers a broad capacity range, with models capable of supporting diameters from 4 –70mm up to 125 – 460mm without roller covers, while heavy-duty variants extend capability to diameters of up to 1,000mm. When equipped with automatically positioned roller covers, the operating range adjusts slightly, starting at 15 – 62mm and increasing up to 125 – 450mm, providing flexibility for different machining scenarios.
Leader also drew attention to developments in modular toolholding with the introduction of polygonal shank interfaces from HPCHO GmbH. Conforming to ISO 26623-1, the trilobed polygon design is fully compatible with Sandvik’s Capto interface, offering a solution aimed at reducing set-up times while maintaining high levels of precision. The modular system is engineered to deliver rigidity and accuracy within 2µm, making it particularly suitable for turning centres with driven tools as well as mill-turn platforms from machine builders such as Mazak, DMG Mori, DN Solutions, Okuma and Haas.
The polygonal connection provides automatic radial centring and uniform pressure distribution across the coupling interface, characteristics that contribute to improved stability in demanding machining operations. The holders are case hardened to 58HRC and finished to a superfine surface roughness of Ra 0.3µm on the polygon, reinforcing durability and repeatability. Available in six sizes, from KP3 with a 32mm flange diameter up to KP10 with a 100mm flange, the range is balanced to 6.3G at 20,000rpm, underlining its suitability for high-speed applications.
Completing the display, Leader demonstrated the Lexair Tri-Grip collet closer, a compact workholding solution designed for both vertical and horizontal machining centres. The Tri-Grip integrates three closers into a single body, simplifying hydraulic connections while maximising raw material loading capacity. Its design enables straightforward set-up and adjustment, with a top-mounted collet locking screw allowing for accurate part orientation.
Operating at pressures up to 5,000psi, the system delivers a drawtube force of 1.1 times the applied pressure, providing consistent and reliable gripping performance across a variety of workpieces. The double-acting, fixed-length configuration ensures uniform part height from one component to the next, an important consideration in repeat production environments. Multiple units can also be combined using connector bushings to create flexible fixture arrangements tailored to specific applications.
Across its MACH 2026 presence, Leader focused on demonstrating how incremental improvements in workholding and toolholding can deliver significant gains in machining accuracy, efficiency and process reliability, reinforcing its role as a supplier of precision-engineered solutions to the UK manufacturing sector.