World premiere for the retrofit solution of the smart clamping jaw iJaw from Röhm
Turning machine owners can now retrofit Röhm's iJaw smart clamping jaw without having to integrate the technology into the machine's control system. This means that existing turning machines can be easily upgraded to the smart clamping jaw era.
Revolution in metalworking
"With iJaw, we are effectively revolutionizing the manufacturing process in machining. This is because real-time measurement of the clamping force during the machining process provides the user with a whole range of benefits. This starts with higher machine availability because setup times can be reduced and machining processes accelerated. This reduces part costs on the one hand, while part quality increases on the other. This is pure process optimization and a real milestone in the digitalization of manufacturing. Overall, sensor-controlled workpiece machining is, of course, much safer than conventional manual clamping by feel," says Gerhard Glanz, CEO of Röhm GmbH.
Safety even with thin workpieces
Gone are the days when the clamping force was set higher than necessary in order to, “play it safe.” "Especially with thin-walled components or sensitive surfaces, this is known to be counterproductive because having too high a clamping force, quickly leads to deformation or even crushing of the workpiece. With exact knowledge of the applied clamping forces, you can significantly reduce rejects," says Glanz.
This is how the iJaw works: The forces introduced into the jaw are detected by an integrated sensor and the data processed accordingly. The iJaw measures not only the actual applied forces of the internal and external clamping but also its own temperature, and in addition, the charging status of the battery is constantly displayed. The iJaw measures in real-time during machining. For this purpose, it has a suitably robust hardened steel design. The internal transmitting antenna has a cover made of high-temperature plastic to protect against hot chips.
Gateway as a data hub
The iJaw transmits the measured data wirelessly to a gateway via the robust IO-Link Wireless protocol with a high sampling rate of 100 Hz.
The gateway consists of an industrial PC for data processing and interfaces, the IO-Link Wireless Master and a router. The “iJaw Connect” gateway communicates with the iJaw via IO-Link Wireless technology. The data is transmitted via Ethernet to a computer for further processing via the integrated LAN interface. The gateway processes the data in real-time and displays it on a tablet or PC. The universal iJaw Gateway from Röhm uses only standard protocols and interfaces.
Retrofitting made easy
It is now possible to retrofit machine tools with the iJaw very easily. In addition to the sensorized clamping jaws, users only need the “iJaw Connect” gateway and a medium for visualizing the measured data. This can be a local PC or a mobile tablet. The system is then controlled by the iJaw Mobile web app that establishes the connection between the iJaw and the gateway. "Through iJaw Mobile, users can then create jobs, manage their jaws, create evaluations and, of course, receive warning messages, for example, if the minimum or maximum clamping force is undercut or exceeded," explains Glanz.
Now available to everyone immediately: the digital fingerprint of machining
The iJaw enables process or productivity analyses and the documentation of measurement data. With the iJaw Mobile app, users can thus access the data of the industrial PC installed in the gateway and evaluate machining parameters. "Especially in the production of components requiring documentation, such as the aerospace industry, this is, of course, a highly valuable feature. The iJaw virtually archives the digital fingerprint of the machining process as proof of the quality of the manufacturing process," says Glanz.
Flexible in use
The iJaw can be mounted and used on lathe chucks with a matching jaw interface like any other clamping jaw. For the market launch, the iJaw is available as a single-stage jaw, two-stage jaw, and through-hole jaw for lathe chucks with straight gearing in the sizes 215, 260, 315, and 400 as well as a special jaw for independent chucks. A suitable lathe chuck from Röhm is the power chuck with the quick jaw change system Duro-A RC. Various interchangeable hard and soft clamping inserts are locked onto the jaw with screws to adapt the jaws to different workpiece geometries.