With technology endlessly evolving, it is of critical importance to keep abreast of the latest developments available to improve productivity and business performance. As an industry leader, YMT Technologies has enhanced its offering of workholding and toolholding solutions to meet the evolving demands of industry.
Following extensive testing by the applications team at Yeovil based YMT and further field application trials by the company’s 5-axis workholding users, YMT has now decided to move forward with a new supplier for its 5-axis vices and mechanical Zero-Point bases. The new range of workholding solutions enables greater performance, flexibility and stability for fixturing everything from simple to complex components.
As we turn the calendar to 2022, YMT is delighted to announce that it is now the UK technology partner for Jergens, a leading workholding brand. This now provides UK manufacturers with access to the Jergens range of Fixture-Pro® 5-axis vices and Quick-Loc Zero Point bases. Jergens has been making workholding solutions for more than 80 years and its expertise now sees the company deliver some of the best performing and most flexible self-centring vices in the industry. Along with Jergens extensive range of 52/96 Zero-Point systems, YMT now has a range of fixturing solutions to accommodate almost all applications.
“This is an incredible new partnership for YMT Technologies and we’re extremely proud to represent such a household name here in the UK,” said Luke Puplett, Development Manager at YMT Technologies. “With numerous jaw and insert options, the Jergens Fixture-Pro® vice range is the most flexible self-centring vice in the world today.”
“There is a growing need for automation and the Jergens brand will help expedite this journey for manufacturers,” Luke Puplett continues. “With businesses looking towards palletised automation, YMT Technologies must offer quality workholding products to give part production security for lights-out machining, but, fundamentally, also offer outstanding flexibility. The Jergens Fixture-Pro® vices and Quick-Loc Zero-Point pallets are the perfect solution.”
Jergens has continually developed all aspects of the Fixture-Pro® self-centring vice range. Incorporating a unique pull-down jaw design, all Fixture-Pro® vices are equipped with quick-change jaws. This means that no tools are required to swap or reverse the jaws – speeding-up changeovers drastically. With jaw lift being a common occurrence in many self-centring vices, the Fixture-Pro® vices do two things to successfully eliminate this issue. The vice captures the front of the jaw with an angled design that forces the jaw down as it builds resistance. The second design consideration that Jergens has implemented allows the carrier to float, so when the clamps build resistance, the top of the jaw carrier and the bottom of the jaw pinch the rail that runs the length of the vice. This forces the rear part of the jaw to pull down too. These important features ensure the entirety of the vice jaw is in contact with the rail and is therefore providing unmatched rigidity.
The extensive range of solutions includes the Jergens Fixture-Pro® vices, the 52mm and 96mm Quick-Loc Zero Point receiver bases and Fixture-Pro® jaw options and accessories. The Quick-Loc Zero Point receiver bases offer a multitude of options with round and square receiver bases, double and multigrid bases, alignment tools, risers, twin, tri and cube fixtures as well as pyramid bases and even machineable blanks. This uncompromising level of flexibility is also demonstrated in the jaw options and accessories.
The Jergens Fixture-Pro® vices are available with 52mm or 96mm pitch patterns in the bottom of the vice, which are compatible with Jergens Quick-Loc pallets, the Lang Quick Point system, 5th Axis Rocklock and others. The Jergens mounting stud receivers are also compatible with the Lang product range. This means both Jergens and Lang systems can interchange without the need to swap mounting studs – creating seamless integration for end-users.
Luke Puplett concludes: “The Jergens Fixture-Pro® vices and Quick-Loc bases are manufactured to the highest standards. With every feature, the operator’s ease of use is at the forefront of the technology. YMT Technologies and Jergens will work closely together over the coming years and we’re very excited about what the future holds.”
