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Five-axis workholding
When Hemlock Engineering invested in two of the fastest five-axis milling machines in the world, they knew that they needed vices that would help them maximise the machining capabilities.
Specifying Hilma SCS120 and SCS80 vices from Roemheld, Nick Marks, Hemlock’s Technical Support Engineer, said: “There was no point buying expensive machines and skimping on the vices as speed and balancing is vital. Accuracy and repeatability are also key and you cannot afford to be even a few microns out as it can cause larger errors and mismatches by the time the work piece has been moved in several axes.
"We often hold large pieces of metal on the 3mm lip of the Hilma vices in the knowledge that the parts will be held securely and safely. I had used Roemheld before and knew they would be the right choice for our five-axis requirements.”
Hemlock produces parts for printers for the food industry as well as supplying general sub-contract engineering for the aerospace and automotive industry. The five-axis machines enable Hemlock to undertake more specialist work, leading to new clients including a Formula One contract and enquiries from the military.
“Five-axis machining puts a lot of strain on the vices and the biggest problem is that jaws can bow,” said Marks.
“However, Hilma vices are strong enough to cope with the demands of fiveaxis work and perform to the tight tolerances and high repeatability we require.”
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