When the Part Determines the Solution

Not ‌all ‌parts ‌will fit nicely into an existing setup. Sometimes the solution has to be driven by the part.

This exact scenario played out recently when a customer came to us with a forging they needed to machine from two different sides. Before they could machine this part, they needed a way to hold it correctly while still making enough of it accessible to the machine to do its job.

Our team designed a custom Triangle Tombstone based on the size, shape, and specs of the customer's forging. Made from Class #35 cast iron, this tombstone gave the customer the ability to machine on three different sides.

The forging still needed to be held in a precise location while being machined, so additionally, our team designed custom locator blocks and clamps to accomplish this. The locator blocks help position the forging correctly, while the clamps keep it held tightly in place. All of this was created with the goal of making it easier for the customer to machine their part in mind. This is exactly what makes custom workholding so useful. Instead of changing the part or process to fit some existing solution, the solution is designed around what the customer needs to accomplish.

The tombstone, locator blocks, and clamps for this customer's part were all designed, machined, and tested here at our facility in Elsmere, KY, allowing our team to ensure the solution would work as intended before it made its way to the customer.

If you have a part that you are having trouble holding, reaching, or machining, give our team a call and we will help you find a solution that works for your shop.