CBER Proves to be a Process Improvement

I just read this article The Stem Solution : Modern Machine Shop and remembered the brothers visit to our booth during IMTS2012. They were excited about what they had seen at the show and how they could use it in their manufacturing process.

The mention of our CBER boring system as a process imporvement for Straitline Components is very gratifying.

More importantly is the underlying story of this article - two young people committed to manufacturing, improving manufacturing processes and having a joy for what they have chosen to do.

Thank you for allowing us to be a part of it.

Criterion's CBER system fit directly into ER collet holder

Reduce Tool Change Over Time

One of our main objectives is to provide products and solutions for our customers that will save them money and reduce their cost of manufacturing. Shortly after introducing the 1/8" solid carbide tools we introduced the “QL” boring tool to our line of solid carbide boring tools.

These .125" diameter solid carbide qualified length boring tools feature a repeatable “Z” length of +.001" /-.001" from a nominal set length. The QL tool’s close tolerance length minimizes a machine’s down time when you have to change a tool during production run.  

When a tool needs to be replaced you loosen the collet nut remove the damaged tool, insert the replacement tool, rotate it until it falls into place. The tools closely held locating angle insure the “Z” length repeatability. The locating angle also places the cutting edge on center giving longer tool life and reducing machine down time.

Criterion's Qualified Length Tools and Qualified Length Adapters

There are 17 different bore diameter and length configurations of the new .125" solid carbide qualified length boring tools. Minimum bore diameters will range from as small as .050" to as large as .110" in diameter. The boring tools are able to bore holes up to .700" in depth depending on the bore diameter.

The qualified length tools need to be held in a Criterion qualified length tool holder. The tool holders are available with 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 5/8" and 3/4" shanks and are design for use in Criterion’s precision boring heads.

IMTS2010 Generates a lot of Interest in CBER

IMTS Visitors discussing CBER applications

IMTS 2010 generated a lot of interest in the CBER product line. The ability to convert standard ER collet holders into precision boring systems was exciting to many of the visitors to our booth. In the past modular boring systems required special tool holders most of which we unique to the manufacturer of modular system. The special holders increased the cost of the boring systems and limited the ability of the user to use different systems because of these costs.

CBER on Display at IMTS 

A number of our visitors wanted to discuss using the CBER products in their swiss machine as well as in live tooling applications for the mill/turn centers. Precision boring in these applications has not been common in the past because of the physical limitations of the holding systems. This is no longer the case because so many of these machines are tooled for ER collet holders.







We thank all of the visitors to our booth and look forward to working with you and meeting the needs of your precision boring requirements,

When Does an Aerospace Company change the Plane?

The answer is when they have to bore a horizontal hole on a vertical machining center.

The combination of a right angle head and a CBER precision boring system allows anyone to change the plane.

Recently an aerospace company contacted us about an application they had for boring a horizontal hole on a vertical machining center. They knew were making boring heads that fit into ER collet holders so they inquired about the possibility of our producing a boring head to fit into an ER16 collet holder.  They had a right angle head that used ER16 collets and they wanted to use it for boring their horizontal hole.

We had just successfully finished our CBER16 prototypes and were beginning our first production run of parts so they would be ready for introduction at IMTS2010. We sent them one of the prototypes they asked if we could extend the range so they could bore a 1.000-inch diameter bore.  We designed an offset head to accomplish their request (The black insert holders in the photo).  An additional dilemma was discovered when the flush nut design collet nut was added as a requirement. We had to quickly do some redesign to the CBER16 so the flush nut could be used.

Again the voice of the customer has given us a new product to carry forward. We will be adding extended range insert holders to our CBER16 and CBER20 precision Boring Systems.

If you need to change the plane or stretch the limits give us a call 800.854.7441 or e-mail us at cmw@criterionmachineworks.com we enjoy the challenges

Product Line Expands because of The Voice of the Customer

A couple of months ago we were contacted by a machinery dealer who had seen our ads for the CBER boring system (you can read about it in our earlier blogs). They wanted to know if we could make ER32 to ER25, ER32 to ER20 and an ER32 to ER16 adaptors. We discussed the application, which was to give their customer a quick-change system for their turning center that was tooled with ER32 collet holders. After looking at the request we determined we could do the ER20 and ER16 sizes but not the ER25.

ER to ER Adaptor

While we were working on the design we realized this would be a natural extension for our CBER system. Our customers will be able to take advantage of the boring ranges of the CBER20 and the CBER16 products in their ER32 holders. We will not be able to have everything ready for IMTS 2010 but we will have it ready by the end of the year. If you have any questions about the CBER system or the ER to ER adaptors please contact us at 800.831.7444 or by e-mail at cmw@criterionmachineworks.com.

Is it a Boring Head or an Adjustable Height Centering Tool Holder?

A few years ago we introduced a small boring head for use on drilling/tapping style CNC machining centers and small benchtop style machining centers. The boring head is 3/4" square and has a boring range from .035" to .580" in diameter. The direct reading dial is graduated in .001" increments.  The first cutomer purchased the boring head did so to use in a gang tooling set-up on his lathe. He was exicted about the fact that he could now adjust his tools so they would cut on center. This was an unexpected use for the tool but it spawned the idea of making an adjustable boring head that could use ER11 collets as the tool holder.

We are introducing the TMT-ER11 Boring Head at IMTS2010. This boring head has the same .035" to .580" range as the TMT-0750 Boring Head but the cuting tool shanks are not limited to 1/8" or 1/4". ER11 collets have a holding range from .019" to .275" so you can hold any type of tool in this boring head. You can now use it to boe small holes or hold small shank tools in a gang tooling set-up.

We look forward to showing it off to you at our Booth #W-2100 @IMTS. You can decide what its best use is after seeing it.

CBER16 is Being Introduced at IMTS2010

We will be introducing the new CBER16 size to our innovative ER precision boring system at IMTS2010. The CBER Boring System converts precision ER collet holders into Precision Boring Systems. The CBER16 will fit into most Swiss Automatic style turrets as well as many Right Angle Heads so you can now easily do precision boring where it was difficult to accomplish before.

The addition of CBER16 means the system now covers ER16, ER20, ER25, ER32 and ER40 collet holders. The system is capable of boring holes as small as .035” in diameter to as large as 1.700” in diameter. All of the CBER sizes have a standard .001” on diameter directing reading adjustment dial. The ER32 and ER40 sizes are also available with a 0.000050” on diameter Micro Adjusting Dial. All sizes will be available in a standard and a short length.

All of the CBER sizes have a locator flat for easy establishment of the adjusting axis as well as a convenient location to indicate from when closer adjustments than the dial graduations are required. The CBER systems do not require special tool holders but they do require that the collet nut does not have the extractor lip as it will prevent the boring system from properly being installed into the collet holder.

Be sure and see our booth @IMTS2010 W-2100

If you're making your plans to visit IMTS be sure to include us in your show planner.

You can access the IMTS Show Planner right on the IMTS website under Floorplans.  We're located in the West building.

We'll be displaying the the new products that you're seeing here on our blog.

This year we're talking about cycle time savings!

Check out the picture on the right.  This is where our booth is located. Our booth W-2100 highlighted in red at the right.  

When you click on our booth you can see some of the featured products.

But be sure and stop by for a first hand look at some of the newest time saving Modular Boring Products and Adjustable Boring heads for both CNC Mills and Swiss Turning machines.