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 including set screw, collet, hydraulic compression and shrink-fit.

Making the Most of Mixed Toolholder Assemblies
Toolholders

Making the Most of Mixed Toolholder Assemblies

While nearly all ER systems will have cross compatibility, they’ll have small differences across manufacturers that make their implementation at the shop level not as standard.

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GWS Tool Group
Sumitomo

ESSENTIAL READING

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How to Manage Cutting Tool Inventory in a Small Job Shop — The One-Person Shop #4

Working in short lead times means maintaining a large range of tools to be ready. What is the right way to stock and organize this investment?

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Cutting Tool Technology Aids Lights-Out Machining Applications

These features can help improve cutting tool stability, standardize cutting performance and extend tool life, enabling shops to confidently run unattended shifts.  

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What To Consider When Adding Angle Heads

Angle heads can enable a three-axis machine tool to be more versatile. That said, this shop explains that there’s more to getting started using them than simply loading them into a machine’s spindle.

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Toolholders

Video Shows How to Check Toolholder Runout

Here’s a video that explains how to check the runout on a collet chuck toolholder.

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A Machinist’s Guide to Toolholder Maintenance

Techniks’ “Machinist’s Guide to Toolholder Maintenance” can be a handy reference for inexperienced machinists and shop veterans alike.

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Why the Y?

See how Y-axis toolholders enable Swiss-type lathes to realize better chip control.

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Specialized Plastic Packaging for Cutting Tools
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Latest Toolholders News And Updates

Toolholders

Tungaloy Grooving Toolholders Provide Highly Stable Machining

TungHeavyGroove includes an enhanced insert clamping design for maximum tool rigidity.

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Seco Tooling Lineup Promotes Optimized Part Processing

The company’s expanded tooling lineup is aimed at applications ranging from general ISO turning to high-volume hard turning and deep-hole drilling.

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Toolholders

Marubeni Citizen-Cincom ATC Enables Flexible Machining

Westec 2023: The ATC tooling provides an environment where the tool setting for machining several types of workpieces can be completed in a single setup.

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Toolholders

Five Common Mistakes Shops Make with ER Collets (And How to Prevent Them)

Collets play a crucial role in the machining process, so proper tool assembly and maintenance is important. Here are five potential pitfalls to avoid when using ER collets.

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Toolholders

Haimer Shrink-Fit Machine Features Integrated Cooling

Westec 2023: Power Clamp Air i4.0 Eco provides smooth and clean cooling of all kinds of toolholders or collets by air, without dirt and water residue.

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Rego-Fix Toolholding System Reduces Coolant Consumption

MQL PG collets are designed for machines using one-channel, internal through-spindle MQL systems.

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How to Troubleshoot Issues With Tool Life

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Simulation and Tooling Secure High-Value Work

Simulation software and careful attention to tooling parameters have enabled Major Tool to take on ambitious projects with its complex machinery.

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IMTS Takeaways From the Modern Machine Shop Editorial Team

The first in-person IMTS in four years left the MMS editorial staff with a lot to digest. Here are a few of our takeaways from the show floor.

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Fixturing for the Automated Age

Koma Precision’s booth at IMTS 2022 features practical demonstrations of rotary tables, right angle heads and more.

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Haimer USA Models a Streamlined Toolroom

Haimer USA is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a live demonstration of its digital toolroom. Find out more past the aluminum panther.

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All-Around Mill Improves Productivity and Cost for Valve Job

Adopting a mill with a double-negative rake and pockets compatible with multiple insert geometries enabled Progressive Metal Service to increase feed and lower scrap rates for a valve.

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FAQ: Toolholders

What is a HSK toolholder?

HSK, meanwhile, works by elastically deforming the toolholder. Fingers inside the hollow shank of the toolholder clamp the holder by pushing out. High spindle speed helps this interface, because the centrifugal force strengthens this clamping.

Source: Testing Measures Impact of Toolholder Interface Rigidity

How does a hydraulic toolholder work?

The hydraulic toolholder works by using fluid to compress an internal membrane within the holder body. The hydraulic fluid delivers uniform pressure around the membrane allowing it to compress equally around the periphery of the cutting tool. Basically, that’s how the hydraulic toolholder delivers its high concentricity specs.

Source: Why Use Hydraulic Toolholders

What is a toolholder?

The toolholder is the connection between the machining center and the cutting tool, employing clamping mechanisms such as set screws, collets, and shrink-fit.

To any Measurement Question there is an Answer
Kennametal
Ingersoll Cutting Tools

Toolholders Supplier Categories

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