James Engineering Introduces Pneumatic P-Center for Precision Workholding
James Engineering has introduced the P-Center, a pneumatic workholding system designed to provide accurate and repeatable between-center positioning for CNC machining, gear manufacturing, grinding, finishing, inspection and automated production applications. The system uses a stationary center and a moving live center to locate a workpiece before pneumatic clamping force is applied.
The P-Center provides positioning accuracy of 0.001 in. TIR or better over an 18-in. long workpiece. The system can accommodate parts weighing up to 150 pounds and provides up to 251 pounds of gripping force. Pneumatic actuation allows the system to be integrated into automated production equipment and CNC machine environments.
The system is designed to be machine-ready for integration into CNC equipment and other automated systems. Integrated rotary table options are available for applications requiring part rotation during machining, inspection, grinding, finishing or other operations.
For loading and unloading, the P-Center incorporates a ballasting system that allows the upper live center to be lifted from the workpiece with one hand. The system is designed so that clamping does not occur until the machine doors are closed, helping prevent operator contact with the clamping mechanism during loading and unloading.
The P-Center was originally developed by James Engineering for use with its own automated finishing equipment and is now available as a standalone workholding system. The between-center design can be used for applications including CNC machining, gear processing, robotic handling, welding, inspection, grinding and finishing where repeatable workpiece positioning is required.
