SCHUNK is entering a new era of toolholding: In September, delivery of the sensory hydraulic expansion toolholder iTENDO, the most sensitive toolholder on the market, will begin. For the first time, it will be possible to monitor machining processes at high resolution at the tool and to control cutting parameters in real-time. The required acceleration sensor and electronics are integrated into the toolholder without affecting its interfering contour and other characteristics.

The iTENDO is capable of seamlessly recording the metal cutting process, monitoring previously defined exact limit values and, in the event of irregularities, enabling real-time adaptive control of the speed of rotation and feed rate, among other measures. Equipped with a sensor, battery, and transmitting unit, the intelligent toolholder records the data at the tool and transmits it wirelessly via Bluetooth to a receiver unit in the machine room, where it is forwarded by cable to a control and evaluation unit. This makes the system fundamentally different to other solutions for process monitoring. While monitoring the current input of the spindle only permits diffuse signals on vibration behavior, the intelligent tool mounting provides precise process data. In pilot applications, the intelligent mounting has proven performance for milling, drilling, countersinking and even deburring.

Starter set for simple commissioning

In a first step, SCHUNK is standardizing the iTENDO for the common interface HSK-A 63 with clamping diameters from 6 mm to 32 mm and a length of 130 mm. The sensory tool holder is suitable for the use of coolant and is designed for speeds of up to 10,000 RPM. The commissioning and data analysis is carried out via a browser-based dashboard on standard PCs, tablet computers or smartphones. In the simplest configuration, which can be implemented completely without machine-side adjustments, the live data from the sensor can be displayed on the SCHUNK dashboard via a local connection. For this purpose, SCHUNK provides a special case system with integrated display, enabling tool holder commissioning within two hours and with minimal effort. In a second configuration, the real-time controller is ideally connected to the machine control system by a service technician via digital or analog I/O so that, for example, alarms can be triggered or processes can be adaptively controlled. The third and most sophisticated configuration enables additional information exchange with the machine (e.g. in the case of the latest Siemens control system via OPC UA). All variants can also be operated and centrally controlled via a cloud solution.

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