KURT: Back-to-Back Vise Mounting

TriLock vises mounted back-to-back

Back-to-Back Vise Mounting Maximizes Machine Space with Minimal Cost

In high-efficiency machining environments, every inch of table space and every second of spindle time matters. If you’re running horizontal machining centers or palletized systems, optimizing your workholding strategy can unlock significant gains in throughput and consistency. That’s exactly where Kurt Workholding’s custom back-to-back vise mounting solutions deliver measurable impact. Most Kurt double and single station vises can be mounted back-to-back including the DX series, VersatileLock, TriLock, XL, HD690 and HDL vises.

Double the Workholding, Not the Footprint

Kurt’s back-to-back vise configuration is engineered to maximize part density within your existing machine envelope. By mounting vises in opposing orientations on a single base, you can machine multiple parts in one cycle—reducing setup frequency and increasing spindle utilization without expanding your machine footprint. This configuration also eliminates the cost of a tombstone or a full cluster tower setup.

This approach is particularly effective in:

  • Horizontal machining centers (HMCs)
  • Palletized automation systems
  • High-volume production environments

The result: more parts per cycle, fewer interventions, and improved overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

Built Around Your Process

Unlike off-the-shelf workholding, Kurt’s back-to-back solutions are not one-size-fits-all. Through the Custom Engineered Workholding Team, each setup is tailored to your specific application, machine constraints, and part geometry (we recommend Carvesmart soft jaws).

A key advantage: Kurt can mount most vises on multiple base options including: 300 mm, 320 mm, 400 mm, 500 mm, and 630 mm bases, making them ideal for integration into standardized HMC pallets and modular fixturing systems. This ensures compatibility with existing infrastructure while enabling scalable production.

Flexible Configuration Options

Kurt’s custom engineering approach gives you the flexibility to configure your system exactly how your process demands. Options include:

  • Vise Selection Compatibility
    Integrate a wide range of Kurt vises based on your clamping force, jaw style, and precision requirements.
  • Base Plate Customization
    300 mm to 630 mm base options designed for seamless mounting on pallets or direct to machine tables.
  • Jaw and Workholding Adaptations
    Incorporate Carvesmart edge-gripping jaws or soft jaws, or application-specific gripping solutions for complex geometries. We are your part-gripping experts!
  • Hydraulic or Manual Actuation
    Choose the actuation method that aligns with your automation level and cycle time goals. Kurt offers great solutions for pneumatic and hydraulic applications.
  • Repeatability & Precision Alignment
    Engineered for consistent part location across cycles, reducing variation and secondary operations.

Designed for Horizontal Machining Efficiency

Back-to-back vise mounting is especially powerful in horizontal machining environments. By presenting multiple workpieces to the spindle in a single index, you reduce idle time and take full advantage of multi-sided machining capabilities. Vises can also be configured for multiple part operations in a single machine setup.

When paired with pallet changers, this setup enables:

  • Continuous operation with minimal operator input
  • Faster job changeovers
  • Improved cycle time consistency
  • Higher throughput per shift

KNOLL: Centrifugal Pumps

KNOLL Centrifugal Pumps are available as submersible or block pumps. These flow machines are used primarily on machine tools to convey cooling lubricants.  As return pumps, they transport the chips/cooling lubricant mixture to filters/separators. They then supply the machines again with the cleaned cooling lubricant. Thanks to their solid and robust design, the KNOLL coolant pumps have a high load capacity and a long durability.

Block Pumps

BS 32, BS 40, BS 50

Self priming KNOLL block pumps of the BS series are pumps which transport contaminated cooling lubricant with high air content. Thanks to the solid and robust design, KNOLL block pumps are extremely reliable and have a long durability.

Clean Coolant Pumps

TG 25, TG 40, TG 50

KNOLL clean coolant pumps TG are cooling lubricant pumps that convey slightly contaminated media. These pumps are able to supply machines with cleaned cooling lubricant (incl. residual dirt).

Dirt Coolant Pumps

TF 40, TF 50, TS 40, TSK 40, TSL 40, TSL 50, TSL 65

KNOLL dirt coolant pumps TF, TS, TSK and TSL are cooling lubricant pumps that convey very contaminated media. These pumps are able to transport the chip/cooling lubricant mixture to filters or separators.

Shredder Pumps

TSC 50, TSC 65

KNOLL shredder pumps TSC are cooling lubricant pumps with an integrated shredder for aluminum chips. These pumps are able to shred long aluminum chips into pump-appropriate size and to convey them to the central preparation station with the help of cooling lubricant. Therefore, an additional chip reducer is not necessary.

Please contact us for more information on KNOLL Centrifugal Pumps

HORN: Efficient Processing of Modern Materials

The alloying of lead in metallic materials has a positive effect on the machining process. Due to the EU’s REACH and ROHS regulations, the time of these easy-to-machine materials is coming to an end in many applications. However, reliable machining must still be possible in the future. With its broad tool portfolio, Paul Horn GmbH has a suitable solution for almost every application.

The main problem when machining lead-free alloys, be it brass or free-cutting steel, is the lack of reliable chip breaking. But what exactly is the effect of the alloy component lead, which is toxic to humans? During machining, the soft metal creates predetermined breaking points in the alloy, as lead forms small nests or inclusions in the alloy structure. These ensure good chip breaking and low cutting forces during machining. Furthermore, the heavy metal acts like a lubricating film, which has a positive effect on tool wear.

The changeover was initially a challenge. The good cutting properties of the lead-alloyed materials were lost. In addition, the wear on the cutting edge increased significantly. This was remedied by grooving and longitudinal turning with chip-breaking geometries from the steel sector and special laser-cut geometries. Extensive investigations show that chip-breaking geometries for steels with medium strength in particular work very well with lead-free materials.

During internal boring, adapted geometries also ensure reliable chip breaking. One of the biggest challenges in internal machining is long chips. These often occur during bore machining. They wrap around the tool, clog bores or, in the worst case, lead to tool breakage. Previously, specially lasered or ground chip form geometries were used for this purpose. However, this was associated with a corresponding cost factor for the cutting insert. With the new Type 105 Supermini and the Type Mini with I geometry, Horn has succeeded in developing universal boring tools with sintered chip form geometry. The tools offer high process reliability in use thanks to good chip control. The cutting edge geometry extends far into the corner radius of the insert. This ensures chip control even with small infeeds. The geometry can be used universally for different material groups and is suitable for internal, face, copy and reverse turning.

Please contact us for more information on the efficient machining of modern materials.

 

Hommel+Keller: Roller Burnishing Tools

High Process Reliability with Short Turnaround Time

Roller Burnishing Tools from Hommel+Keller Präzisionswerkzeuge GmbH, Germany are the ideal solution for users who require a very smooth and simultaneously hardened surface – in the shortest possible machining time. With roughness depths below Rz < 2.0 μm, roller burnishing tools offer an economical alternative to conventional fine machining methods. Thanks to their compact design, the roller burnishing tools can be used directly in the existing machining center – without special machines and without additional clamping.

 

Features & Benefits :

  • Spring force up to 450 N, spring travel 2 mm
  • Three roller types: R0.4 | R0.6 | R1.0 mm
  • Strengthening of the surface layer -> higher fatigue strength
  • Very low investment, fast amortization

Please contact us for more information on Roller Burning Tools, Knurling Tools and Marking Tools from Hommel+Keller Präzisionswerkzeuge GmbH, Germany.

 

KNOLL: Scraper Belt Conveyor K

KNOLL K Type Scraper Belt Conveyors are used for transporting metal chips and small parts.  Widely used in many machine tool systems all over the world offering benefits that serve shopfloors day in and day out with trouble free operation.  Some of the common uses and benefits of KNOLL K Type conveyors are:

  • Use on individual and interlinked machine tools
  • Central use for waste disposal from machine groups and entire production areas
  • Suitable for short chips (e.g. steel, brass, aluminum, copper, cast)
  • Suitable for wet and dry processing

Properties

 Benefits
Safety slide coupling Effective overload protection
Extraction of the cooling lubricant from the trough High delivery rate possible
Edge filter in the trough in front of the suction line Good chip pre-separation
Simple layout Easy to service
Customer-specific design Best-possible addressing of requirements

 

Main Function

  • Collection of the chips/parts
  • Transporting of the chips/parts to the discharge point on the container bottom

Additionally for wet processing

  • Collecting of the cooling lubricant
  • Separating of chips and cooling lubricant
  • Buffering of cooling lubricant
  • Transporting of the cooling lubricant for processing, return pumping station or machine

Continuous Scraper Belt

  • 2 roller chain strands that are connected to scraper bars
  • Positively-driven chain circulation
  • Tensioning through easy adjustment of the bearing retainers

Combination Possibilities
For other requirements, on request we can combine the conveyor with

  • Filter systems for cleaning the cooling lubricant and supplying the machine tool
  • Chip reducers for generating pumpable or absorbent chips
  • Return pumping stations for transporting chips and cooling lubricant to the central plant
  • Extraction stations for transport of chips to the central plant

Please contact us for more information on KNOLL K Type Conveyors for your chip handling requirements.