Gear Expo Preview: Hydra-Lock Booth 640

Hydra-Lock features its patented Conform-A-Chuck and Conform-A-Arbor workholding solutions designed to adapt to an out-of-round OD or ID and securely grip that diameter to enable boring, honing, grinding, or other machining operations without changing the original free state shape of the part. This unique technology provides solutions for the unlimited combinations of machining found in today’s gear making applications.

The Conform-A products rely upon a unique plastic material called Hydra-Fibre.  This allows the chuck or arbor to easily expand (up to .125” depending upon size) and adjust in order to hold thin-walled and out-of-round components without rounding. The Conform-A products are able to locate on a rough machined surface and establish an average center line. By locating on the entire surface, the chuck is able to support the weak component area and withstand tool pressure.  Resulting accuracies of the operation are typically within +.001”.

Conform-A-Chucks and Conform-A-Arbors can be developed in any size to meet the application with either a direct pressure or a self-contained hydraulic system. Conform-A-Chucks can be designed to produce either bell-mouthed, straight or choke condition at the skirt end.  Conform-A-Arbors feature retractable stops so that the end face of the part may be machined square and ID chamfered during the same cycle during which the OD is turned.