Easier Positioning And Clamping For Multiple Part Setups
Many machining operations benefit from multiple part setups, right? Maximize machine uptime, capacity and capability.

Size, shape and complexity of surfaces to be machined usually dictate what’s possible. So does the total machining envelope that the CNC will allow. Jergens has an answer to how to best position and clamp the highest number of parts while staying clear of tool paths and spindle movements – sound OK?

Watch Your Machining Take Off On A Rail
The OK-Vise® is Jergens low profile modular clamping system that uses the RM Multi-Rail and clamping modules to hold tight and stay out of the way. General-purpose and totally customizable, Multi-Rail and the other OK-Vise® system components, make it possible, even easy, to configure your workholding exactly to your need in order to optimize machining.

We’ve recently added a number of fixture set components for even greater ease of use and capability, including Parallels and Side Guides for positioning, as well as Clamp and Stop Modules to hold workpieces securely during machining.

Getting Positioned For Productivity 
QuicklyT Slot, magnetic and Snap-in Parallels assist in the positioning of a workpiece on the RM rail, avoiding contact with the serrations through a raised datum surface. Mechanical and magnetic Side Guides also assist in positioning the workpiece. They are mounted either to the tapped holes in the side of the rail or via the strong magnet for a wide range adjustment and the ability to move rapidly from one location to another. You can adjust each side guide for a specific product while keeping the guide ready for the next production batch.

Clamped In And Held Tight
Holding workpieces securely with OK-Vise® is done with Clamp and Stop Modules. In addition to our full line, we have added new B and D Series Clamp Modules that feature a standard clamp combined with a riser plate (B Series), socket head cap screw, and t-nut, as well as a choice of jaw faces – smooth, serrated, mixed and mounting jaw. Stop Modules hold fast against clamping pressure and are also available in several styles including smooth, serrated, knife, V-stops – both vertical and horizontal – and more.
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In total, this system provides near-endless fixture configurations, consistent holding and machining of challenging workpieces both large and small including multiples clamped simultaneously, and the ability to mount to the Jergens Quick Locating (QLS) Grid System for next-level productivity.
For more information on the new OK-Vise® additions, or any of our complete line of workholding solutions, don't hesitate to contact us. 

Are you utilizing your machine to the fullest? 
Welcome to 2021! Now more than ever, it is critical to evaluate your manufacturing processes to be sure you are maximizing your current machine tools’ capabilities.

SACRAMENTO,  CA. - Next Generation Tooling is excited to announce that effective November 1, 2020, we will be the exclusive agent for California and Nevada for Jergens, Inc.

"We've been working with machine shops for a couple decades now to develop more efficient workholding and fixturing methods and we found ourselves in a position of not having a complete product line of workholding solutions that included manual and hydraulic clamping combined with 5 Axis solutions. Jergens checks off all of those boxes" said Chris Savolainen, President of Next Generation Tooling. 

In 1955 Jergens made their first foray in workholding when the received a  patent on the Sine Fixture Key and it become the first of many patented workholding items in Jergens' product line.

Jergens has a long history on the West Coast as well.  In 1981 Jergens, Inc. acquires California distributor Liberty Industrial Company and developed the first 5 axis vises in the early 2000's in their west coast facility well before anyone else was even thinking about 5 axis machining. ​

In the 90's Jergens developed the Ball Lock® Quick change system and in 2008 acquired Bock Workholding form Joe Cousins, who was part of the original team who created the Chick Workholding vise. 

In 2011, Jergens, Inc. introduced the Fixture-Pro® Line, which was the first comprehensive, modular system approach to 5-Axis Workholding available.

by Bernard Martin

Sacramento, CA. -  Next Generation Tooling, LLC, a manufacturer's representative agency, founded in 1995 and servicing the California Nevada Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico CNC manufacturing markets has just opened TWO offices in California.

Most of Next Generation Tooling's customers know them as "the Next Gen guys" according to Chris Savolainen, the Founder and President of 'Next Gen Tooling'.

What was the rationale of opening not one, but two offices when the entire team has worked out of their own home offices for years?

"We've grown our market service area quite a bit since we started out servicing just Northern California.  We now include most of the Western States of the US.  We've s been adding some of the best technical CNC application people we can find to support the unique mix of principles we represent. The products that we represent are what are considered very high performance tooling and workholding.  It's some of the premiere products in our entire industry! We determined that we really needed a place to provide on-site technical training.  We also needed to carry some inventory to support the unique needs of the aerospace, medical, electronics and defense industries that we support." Said Savolainen.

Rob Aldama, Vice-President of Next Gen Tool picks up the story,  "At first we thought that one training and showroom might be good enough, but as we started talk to our distributor, machine dealer and end-user manufacturing customers, we discovered that there was a real need for facilities in both Northern and Southern California. None of our competitors are providing the deep technical service that has helped us gain market share, so we really felt we should just take it to the next level and open two facilities."

With the Covid-19 pandemic raging there are not a lot of companies expanding. Most are cutting costs and employees. When asked about this both Chris and Rob stated that their team of people have remained pretty busy throughout this entire period. 

Chris said "We get asked in to shops to provide technical support pretty often. Putting on the full body PPE suits has been kind of common for us during the past few months." 

Rob picked it up from there, "I think we may be some of the really select few that have been asked to come into shops because we're not just taking orders, we're reducing cycle time and we're improving efficiency"

Chris jumped back in, "And maybe its a little bit self serving,  We can have the equipment set-up at both locations instead of trying to bring it into a facility.  It's actually a lot easier, faster and safer to bring people to one of our locations rather than try to move things with lots  of sweat and heavy breathing in PPE." 

"Yea, We can bring people to either location and do the training.  There are far less interruptions and the I think people learn a lot more, and learn it faster" stated Rob.

What types of training do they provide at Next Gen's new buildings?  They start off with a lot of fundamentals that people running CNC machines may never had any formal training about. That's where their basic Training Classes fit in.

But they also can go much deeper with their Advanced Part Manufacturing training series

• Programming Tool Path – Climb versus Conventional
• Material Machinability – Cubic Inches of Stock Removal
• Part Set Up / Workholding  & Fixturing
  
• Tool Holder Selection, Collet, Solid, Hydraulic, Shrink Fit
• Cutting Tool Selection – Substrate, Geometry, Coating, Speed and Feeds 
• Estimating Part Cycle Time

Can you rough on 5th Axis RockLock Tombstone?

In the Video below check out the roughing tool steel on the Grob G350 5-Axis CNC machine. 3 parts per cycle utilizing the 5th Axis RockLock integrated RL52A-T31 Tombstone.

The Tombstone features the integrated RockLock 52mm 4 pull stud quick change system. Proudly made in San Diego, CA

Products used in the video:

• RL52A-T31: 3-sided integrated RockLock tombstone
• RL96A-38: RockLock adapter / riser V75100: 75mm x 100mm self-centering vise

Learn more about the RockLock quick change system : www.5thaxis.com

From day one, 5th Axis Inc.’s business strategy has been to take advantage of the most advanced software, equipment and technologies available so it could competitively enter demanding niche markets like aerospace, medical and other challenging high-tech industries.

​However, during the company’s entry into five-axis machining, co-founders Steve Grangetto and Chris Taylor realized their CAM software had major shortcomings—machining collisions were common, and they weren’t able to realize the full potential of their machine tools. Using Hypermill from Open Mind Technologies AG of Wessling, Germany, the company achieves faster run times, better surface finishes and overall better quality

Open Mind uses internal experts to develop postprocessors, which it considers to be a core technology of the company. The customized postprocessors have configurable parameters that enable users to control their particular environments. This means that the core mathematics and the basic structure of the post are created and locked down by Open Mind, but 5th Axis can change certain parameters, which influence the locked portion.

According to Mr. Levine, “Some companies give the customer a tool kit and the ability to build their own post, but those guys are not there to write postprocessors; they are there to cut metal. Also, writing the entire postprocessor is too much for the original equipment manufacturer that has to ensure compatibility with various CAM software products. An alternative approach is to give the customer no control, but then they would have to call back to the service supplier to make custom changes. Our combination of locked and open is not entirely common, and we believe it gives customers the best of both worlds.”
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The high-quality tool paths, advanced CAM software capabilities, postprocessor support and skilled technical support give 5th Axis the confidence to take on ever more challenging jobs that require programming complex parts, Mr. Taylor says. “With Open Mind’s help, we never burn money getting stuck on a job. Their contribution has been a really big part of the growth of our business.” 

We are very excited to announce a new partnership with 5th Axis Workholding located in San Diego, CA.  5th Axis has created a very nice dovetail workholding system for use in 5 axis milling and can also be used in turning.  Please give them a big welcome to out family of principals!

5th Axis Workholding was created out of shear necessity.  When Co-CEO’s Steve Grangetto and Chris Taylor started 5th Axis Inc. in 2005, they immediately recognized the need for quality workholding that addressed many of the common issues machinists encounter when moving into the 4th and 5th axis machining.

“Fixturing may be the ultimate in problem-solving,” he continues. “If you don’t start with a good, solid fixture – in either 3- or 5-axis work – you’re not going to end up with a good part. More axes just add more layers of complexity.”  “A lot of people still aren’t used to thinking in 5 axes when it comes to fixturing,” observes Chris. “They often design them to get a part on and off quickly, without stopping to think about clearance issues.” In 5-axis work, A- and B-axis movement can seriously impact Z-axis clearance. Careless designs invite costly crashes. Longer tools lessen some clearance issues, but introduce problems of their own.