Blue Photon is ecstatic to announce the following release of their new product video with examples demonstrating the Blue Photon technology and workholding system.
For a more in-depth visual of how Blue Photon’s ultraviolet (UV) workholding technology is a solution to your workholding needs, check out the video below:
Post Processing | 3D printing presents challenges in workholding for finish machining
Mark Kirby
AM Business Manager,
Renishaw Canada
Metal 3D printing can enable rapid, low cost iterations of new medical devices, since no tooling costs are involved. All devices need testing to uncover problems and develop solutions—allowing the product shape to change “for free” is a powerful advantage with Additive Manufacturing (AM). Other benefits flowing from AM besides enabling more complex geometry are improved accuracy with no component tolerance stack up, and a simplified supply chain with reduced part count. Read the rest of this entry »
5/19/2020 | 4 Minute Read
Turning to an Adhesive for Lathe Workholding
“Adhesive cured by ultraviolet light is an option for securing parts for machining that could otherwise distort when traditional, mechanical clamping techniques are used.”
Check out the article from Production Machining Blog to learn how BlueGrip workholding adhesive could be a solution to your turning applications:
Turning to an Adhesive for Lathe Workholding
Thin rings such as this one are candidates for a photo-activated adhesive workholding process. The process eliminates part distortion that can might happen when conventional, mechanical clamping devices are used.
For some turning applications, chuck jaws or other conventional workholding devices for CNC lathes can cause a part to distort as clamping force is applied. This can be the case for large, thin rings such as the one shown on the left. Those workholding elements can also prevent full access to a part, which might necessitate reclamping for an additional operation.
Blue Photon offers an alternate workholding method for these types of situations that uses adhesive cured by ultraviolet (UV) light to secure a part for turning. It can also be used for other processes such as milling, grinding, electrical discharge machining and 3D printing/additive manufacturing.
December 12, 2019 | 2 Minute Read
Workholding Adhesives for Optical and Ceramic Components
Check out the article from Photonics Spectra to learn how workholding adhesives provide alternate solutions to the challenges of traditional holding methods:
Workholding Adhesives for Optical and Ceramic Components
New optical workholding adhesives provide alternate solutions to the challenges of traditional holding methods.
DAN BILLINGS AND SHANNON OSBORN, BLUE PHOTON TECHNOLOGY &, WORKHOLDING SYSTEMS LLC
The way optical workpieces are held during processing has changed little over the decades. During grinding and polishing, vacuum fixturing and adhesives such as wax, pitch, and epoxy resins have traditionally been used. The waxes and pitches are heated to reach a flowable state and are then applied to the fixture or part. Once the wax or pitch has cooled, the workpiece is placed into a holding device for processing. In both fixed and rotating applications, the vacuum is often applied with a rotary union. Once the workpiece is loaded into the fixture, the vacuum is turned on to allow the part to be pushed into the fixture by atmospheric pressure. The vacuum is turned off to remove or release the part.
Figure 1. Examples of vacuum fixtures. Courtesy of S.I. Howard Glass Co.
Blue Photon® will demonstrate the advantages of their photo-activated adhesive workholding system at Southtec 2019 this October in Greenville.
Blue Photon’s workholding products are a manufacturer’s solution to hold parts for tight-tolerance machining and inspection. Complex-shaped, hard-to-hold parts, and delicate materials like ceramic and laminated composites are well suited to the technology which supplies up to 605 lbs of tensile holding power per patented gripper. Any part that is at risk for distortion from mechanical clamps, or that pose complications in fixture design and tool access, are easily and simply held with Blue Photon’s patented grippers and BlueGrip™ workholding adhesive.
September 3, 2019 | 2 Minute Read
Out of the blue
Check out the article from Aerospace Manufacturing Magazine to learn how JJ Churchill is using Blue Photon Workholding Technology to meet their manufacturing needs:
JJ Churchill’s executive chairman, Andrew Churchill
Mike Richardson meets JJ Churchill’s executive chairman, Andrew Churchill to hear about the latest developments of its aerofoil blade machining techniques with the help of a new workholding concept called Blue Photon.
A first-tier expert in the production of gas turbine blades from forgings, castings and solid billet, JJ Churchill says it has halved machining operations on specific critical parts using Blue Photon technology – which is marketed in the UK and Europe by NCMT.
Blue Photon technology enables engineers to realise benefits not possible previously with mechanical fixtures alone. JJ Churchill has utilised the Blue Photon technology in an innovative way to deliver huge productivity benefits for its customers. Read the rest of this entry »
From the 16 to 21 September 2019, the German city of Hanover will once again play host to one of the world’s most important engineering events, the EMO international machine tool and manufacturing technology exhibition.
Here, on Stand A1 in Hall 6, Leader Chuck International will demonstrate the very latest workholding and productivity enhancing products from its extensive range of products.
Visitors will be able to see first-hand the latest innovations, including Blue Photon, CARVEsmart, Jato Precision and Orange Vice at the company’s 25 sq.m. booth hosting static and dynamic demonstrations of the improved efficiency and accuracy available from all four of these pioneering technology providers.
Blue Photon will demonstrate the advantages of their photo-activated adhesive workholding system at the 2019 Advanced Manufacturing Expo in the Metal Working Hall at Booth 2008 on Aug. 22 at the Deltaplex Arena in Grand Rapids, MI from 8:00AM-3:00PM.
Blue Photon® will demonstrate the advantages of their photo-activated adhesive workholding system at Northwest Machine Tool Expo, Eastec, and Rapid+tct this May.
Read the rest of this entry »The Part: Component of knee implant.
The Material: Cobalt-chromium.
The Problem: Part movement during machining due to the complex shape of the implant and the associated restrictive geometrical and dimensional requirements.
The Solution: Blue Photon’s grip technology, solves workholding struggles by eliminating scrap and rework caused by poor clamping, ensuring that the surface integrity of the implant is not affected.
The Benefit: Allows for automation of your high valued parts.
