Collet Adapters Preset Clamp Force, Limiting Downtime

ANCA’s PremierPlus collet adapter range is said to ensure consistent and repeatable tool runout of 7 microns or less during production runs and complement the company’s range of collet adaptors for shank tooling. With greater clamping force, tools are said to be held more securely as they are ground, increasing the consistency of tool geometry across a batch of tools.

The collet adapter range is said to provide rigid clamping to improve quality of the finished tool, easier setup for less downtime and the ability to be retrofitted for existing MX, TX and FX machines in the field with no need for modifications to the machine headstock.

PremierPlus is designed to control tool runout, enabling operators to radially adjust the collet with adjustment screws. As the clamping force is increased, more force is required to open the collet. The feature is enabled by a hydraulic pressure intensifier unit at the rear of the adapter.

Because of the preloaded clamping mechanism, the operator does not need to remove the adapter from the machine when changing the collet. The resulting simplified grinding process is said to reduce setup time and save money. Adjusting the pre-load of the internal clamping mechanism ensures that larger diameter tools can be rigidly held particularly when fluting tools at higher grinding forces, the company says.