While Northfield chucks have long been synonymous with ultra-precise turning and grinding, many of our systems also power multi-axis milling cells. A recent project—milling steel bolt-carrier blanks—showcases how adaptable our work-holding can be when mounted on a rotary table and paired with auxiliary supports.
Northfield’s integrated 5C collet chuck is purpose-built for compact 4- and 5-axis tilting rotary tables, where traditional work-holding actuators simply won’t fit. By moving the entire pneumatic mechanism inside the chuck body, we turn even the tightest rotary platter into an automation-ready station—no external cylinders, drawbars, or bulky plumbing required.
A leading global producer of precision fuel-injection systems urgently needed to replace a worn Japanese-made diaphragm chuck on a high-speed lathe. To keep production on schedule, the new work-holding solution had to meet micron-level accuracy, incorporate an air-detect stop, and arrive far sooner than the previous chuck supplier’s projected six- to eight-month lead time.
A major U.S. aerospace-engine parts manufacturer—renowned for producing small, high-performance turbine engines—decided to shift from labor-intensive machining to fully automated, robot-tended cells. After a two-year internal study of capacity constraints and hiring challenges, the company committed to a plant-wide transformation that required every element of the machining system to be robot-friendly, including the 10-inch Northfield air chucks they had relied on for years.
Precision workpieces often demand unique fixturing to achieve the required accuracy. When a leading North American fuel systems manufacturer needed to super-finish grind a complex cylinder face, our team designed a custom solution to ensure perfect stability and repeatability.
A full-service medical device contract manufacturer needed a way to laser-weld very thin-wall stainless-steel tubing—6 mm and 8 mm diameters—without marring or distorting the parts. The tubes also had to be fed deep into a rotary fixture to reach the weld zone, all while maintaining precise concentricity.
Discover how Northfield's precision workholding technology enables medical device manufacturers to achieve sub-micron accuracy while maintaining the highest quality standards in production environments.
Dana Corporation manufactures drive shaft components for the big three auto makers. At Northfield, we're proud of the part we play in helping them solve their production challenges.
Mascotech Sintered Components Mascotech Sintered Components are the second largest powdered metal automotive parts maker in the world, and a valued Northfield Customer. Sintering is not a new technology, but it can provide tremendous financial savings in parts processing. The...
