What If You Don’t Have a Torque Wrench?

Using a torque wrench to tighten the clamping nut on ER-collet toolholders ensures that the collets are not over-tightened. Tightening clamping nuts using too much oompf could lead to poor tool runout and collet damage.

For those who don’t have torque wrenches, Rego-Fix offers its new Torco-Block device, which enables users to clamp collet nuts to the proper torque value during tool changes using conventional wrenches.

The system consists of three primary components. The assembly unit into which the toolholder is inserted for a tool change features a built-in torque gage. The toolholder’s clamping nut is tightened until the gage’s needle reaches the position marked for the specific shaft diameter on an indicator ring. The Torco-Block system features five indicator rings that cover all ER sizes from ER 11 to ER 32 for shaft diameters ranging from 1 to 22 mm. The rings clip onto a positioning pin on the assembly unit. Adaptors are available in all standard spindle taper interfaces and can be quickly changed out using an allen wrench.

This, from the company that invented the ER collet.