The Abbott Master Plate and Segment system is a great choice for turning larger diameter work pieces. The system consists of an aluminium master plate, similar to a thin pie jaw, which is pre-drilled and keyed to accomodate Abbott’s standard, off-the-shelf segment rings.
Plates are available in various diameters from 384mm to 1524mm and can be mounted on 200mm to 1524mm diameter chucks, effectively increasing the holding capability of any chuck without eliminating the ability to hold small parts. The master plate can be custom machined to fit any model chuck, making it a permanent universal fixture on any machine.
When using this system, the transition from one job to the next simply requires bolting on a new size or configuration of segments before continuing with the next production run, which can reduce setup and changeover times by up to 80%.
The installation of an Abbott Master Plate on a Mazak Megaturn Nexus at Birmingham-based Columbia Precision allowed them to machine thin-walled components without introducing distortion, out-of-roundness, or eccentricity. Machine Engineer Colin Peach said:
“A set can be removed and three more segments bolted on to the plate for the next production run in less than half an hour, enabling high productivity to be maintained around the clock.”
If you would like to see an Abbott Master Plate in action, please check out this video.
If you would like more information about the Abbott Master Plates, or any of our products, you can arrange a FREE visit from one of our technical representatives by contacting us on 01725 512517 or enquiries@1mta.com.
