"Pete C." wrote in message . com...

PrecisionmachinisT wrote:

wrote in message ...
Greetings Karl,
If I had to trim a bunch of cases I'd do it in the mill. Using a V
block and a toggle clamp would probably work well. If you mount the
toggle clamp at an angle such that it moves toward the primer end when
clamping then the case would be pulled tight against the mill table
and the lengths would repeat closely. I have mounted on my Bridgeport
a switch that is controled by an adjustable screw that mounts in the
quill stop. I use this switch to control a solenoid operated air
valve. I have several air clamps that I've cobbled up from air
cylinders and the like. When the quill is raised the switch turns on
the solenoid which in turn opens the air clamp. If you have enough
cases to trim you could save a lot of time. I'll bet a cycle time,
part to part, of less than 7 seconds, would be esay to attain. I could
post pictures of the switch setup and a clamp or too if anybody is
interested.


I generally use an air-actuated vise in a cnc mill for that kind of thing.

One of those air operated 5C collet closers periodically seen in the
ENCO flyers perhaps?

No, I was actually referring to one of these type:

http://www.heinrichco.com/savise.htm

But personally I use a Kurt 6in vise that I've fitted up a special pair of 10in long jaws and two of the enerpac 1in diameter cylinders fitted to it which works fine with air for light duty holding--I wire the solenoid valve up use a spare M-function and so the nc program automatically does the clamping/unclamping for me...

Otherwise, for heavier duty work I'll connect hydraulic up to the same setup using a haskell m21 pump which gives me 2100psi hydraulic pressure provided an air supply of 100 psi.

Clamping action is pretty quick because the cylinders have a relatively short stroke and so the total fluid displacement volume is maybe 1/2 cup tops.

The enerpac cylinders are actually swing clamps which can be readily re-configured for straight, left right hand swing and they are flange-mounted and so they are also easily moved from one fixture to another.....I actually use them quite a bit here...

http://images.drillspot.com/pimages/8153/815333_300.jpg ---dual-acting so they can push as well as pull

--one nice thing is that when they unclamp they make a distinctive noise which alerts operators that the machining cycle has completed--makes it easier to keep production levels up where you have several machines all making noise at the same time.