Where chips are flying, tool holding plays an important role

Whenever someone in the precision machining industry talks about flying, one thing is typically brought up, chips. This also applies to Pilatus Aircraft, the only Swiss aircraft manufacturer. At the headquarters in Stans, Switzerland, everything generally revolves around the topic ‘flying’, but machining structural parts also plays an important role. In 2016 Pilatus invested in a completely modernised volume-machining system in order to further improve the quality and efficiency of the production. Core elements of the enhanced production are two new flexible manufacturing systems that are run with full automation and guarantee the highest quality in a stable process. 

Walter Duss, Director Milling, pointed out that fine-balanced tools are absolutely necessary: "Only the high balancing grade of the complete tool assembly - balanced on a HAIMER balancing machine - together with HAIMER tool holders can guarantee vibration-free machining and surfaces without any chatter marks. Furthermore, the high run-out accuracy significantly increases the lifetime of the spindle and tools."

According to the experience of Patrik Odermatt, Team Leader Mechanical Processing and responsible for the internal division of tools at Pilatus, high quality tool holders that offer long-term stability and run-out accuracy definitely pay off. It is for this reason that he has been working with HAIMER in Igenhausen for many years. He uses HAIMER Shrink Fit Chucks and High-Precision Collet Chucks together with the corresponding presetting, shrinking and balancing machines that are available at the Pilatus toolshop which serves as their internal tool management service centre.

"Regarding such topics as quality, price-performance ratio, consultation and support, our experience with HAIMER is very positive" Odermatt explained. "That's why we made the decision to continuously and solely rely on tool holding technology from HAIMER when it comes to our new manufacturing system. We exclusively use tools that are clamped into HAIMER Standard Shrink Fit Chucks, ultra-short and long Power Shrink Chucks as well as Power Mini Shrink Chucks, Power Collet Chucks and special Face Mill Arbors.”

Since Pilatus is working with many different parts that are extremely thin with wall thicknesses ≤1.2mm and deep pockets, the wide range of HAIMER tool holders was an important consideration. Also HAIMER has shown flexibility regarding the spindle interface: for the new manufacturing systems a special HSK-A 63/80 tool holder was necessary. After close cooperation with Pilatus, HAIMER developed a program for this interface and added it to its standard delivery portfolio.

HAIMER also proves to be innovation-driven with its patent pending mechanical locking Data-Lock system that fixes the RIFD data carrier onto the tool holder. Pilatus uses this solution to ensure that even at the highest rpm the data carriers are securely fixed and cannot separate from the tool holder.

According to tool expert Odermatt, one of the greatest advantages of working with HAIMER is the fact that you can get all tool holding technology from one single source. “For every HAIMER Shrink Fit Chuck the required parameters are already integrated into the shrinking machines,” stated Odermatt. “The performance and heating time are ideal and guarantee process-reliable shrinking at the push of a button. And balancing is also easy to perform.”