Tool Palletization

Whether a toolmaker is placing prepared or raw blanks into a tool and cutter grinder, or removing finished products from the grinder, Active Automation Inc., Elk Grove Village, Ill., has developed a product to help them. Its adjustable tool pallets accept shank diameters from 0.025" to 0.5". Specials can be ordered that accept diameters up to 1.25". In addition, the pallets also accept square shanks and other shapes with an even number of sides.

According to Sam Marinkovich, Active's president, this eliminates the need to have separate pallet for each tool diameter. "A toolmaker might need 150 or more pallets to accommodate all its tool sizes, and the adjustable tray eliminates that need," he said.

The pallet's top and bottom plates move together in unison as the thumb wheel is adjusted, while the middle plate moves an equidistant in the opposite direction. This plate movement provides a constant tool centerline, so that once a robot is "taught" the centerline, it's able to grip each tool-without recalibration-regardless of the tool's diameter. Of course, even without a robot, Marinkovich said the pallet is an effective tool-handling system.

Each pallet should be adjusted so there's a slight amount of clearance between the tool and the pallet opening. This allows a tool to be easily inserted and removed, said Frank Kowalski, engineering manager for Active Automation. He added that as the robotic gripper experiences wear and loses accuracy, a chamfer on the bottom of the tool or top of the opening helps guide the tool into the tray.

Because tool and cutter grinders from individual machine builders have different footprints, Kowalski said Active either has to design a pallet based on a manufacturer-supplied print or reverse-engineer it when a print can't be obtained. Pallets are available for most of the popular machines on the market, including ANCA, Walter, Rollomatic, Unison, AAI and other tool grinders.

"Cutting Tool Engineering", January 2002 (page 53-54)

Adjustable Tool Pallet, 530 Bennett Road, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007. Tel: 847-427-8100; Fax: 847-806-6396.