Zone: Toolholders

Video: Parts Gripper Allows Machine To Act As Its Own Robot

This footage shows a workpiece gripper that enables a machine to load and unload workpieces on its own.

Video: Balancing Tools And Toolholders

This video provides both the argument and methodology for performing offline balancing of tool/toolholder assemblies for high speed machining centers.

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Video: Balancing Tools And Toolholders
12/9/2009 Modern Machine Shop: This video provides both the argument and methodology for performing offline balancing of tool/toolholder assemblies for high speed machining centers.
CYCLO CUT Cutting Tools
11/9/2009 Modern Machine Shop: (Sponsored Content) MAG’s CYCLO CUT cutting tools include a high grip collet chuck with up to 75% increased gripping force without expensive bearing nuts. Our chucks apply a unique coating which reduces friction when clamping rotary cutting tools. These holders are ideal for large drills and solid carbide end mills and provide better TIR and extended tool life.
Quick Change for Screw Machines
11/2/2009 Production Machining: New quick-change dovetail form toolholders bring lean operations at a lean price.
How Do You Get The Cutting Parameters Right For Small End Mills?
7/24/2009 Modern Machine Shop: A reader recently asked about speed, feed rate and depth of cut when using small tools in steel.
Using Small End Mills In Steel Without Breaking
7/24/2009 Modern Machine Shop: A reader wants to mill with small tools on a straightforward VMC used for full-sized work. MMS Online’s micromachining expert offers advice.

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Overview Of:
Toolholders

The Toolholder is the essential connection between the machining center and the cutting tool. The toolholder fits into and is secured by the machining center’s spindle, and in turn secures the cutting tool such as a drill or end mill by clamping onto its shank. The taper of the toolholder matches the toolholder interface of the particular spindle. Toolholder tapers are often conical, including CAT and BT taper specifications. A different kind of taper, HSK, is not tapered at all, but instead includes a variety of flanges for securely locking the toolholder in place. Toolholders use different mechanisms for clamping the tool. A set screw can clamp onto a corresponding flat in the tool’s shank. Or, a collet can be compressed around the tool by tightening a nut that also surrounds the tool. More unusual clamping mechanisms include hydraulic toolholders, which compress a bladder of hydraulic fluid, as well as shrink fit toolholders, which clamp and release the tool by heating and cooling the toolholder’s metal to take advantage of thermal expansion and contraction. Other toolholder types use still other methods of clamping. Various clamping mechanisms aim to provide not just secure holding of the tool, but also tool concentricity to the centerline of the spindle that is accurate to a level of runout error appropriate to the tool and the machining process.