by Thomas Mittmann
Driven tools with quick-change systems save money upfront, and long term
In the past, acquiring non-perishable tooling after a major machine purchase required a large expenditure—one that was often uncomfortable for companies with limited budgets. In today’s hyper-competitive marketplace (especially in the middle of a still-sluggish economy), this cash outlay can be worse than uncomfortable; it can be crippling.
That’s why, for leaders focused on conserving costs and improving productivity, innovative tool quick change can be a game-changer.
Modern driven toolholders can be designed for heavy duty milling.
High quality bearings and optimized spindle design allow transmission of higher torque. This design guarantees smooth and vibration free running and long life.
Instead of an ER clamping collet, the toolholder can receive a milling arbor adapter or side lock adapter directly in the driven toolholder spindle. This makes the use of shell mills and end mills possible. The lathe is ready for heavy duty milling.
Innovative quick-change systems for driven toolholders save money in out-of-pocket tooling costs. Plus, they dramatically reduce tool change time and provide greater flexibility.
Systems providing an ER collet chuck and quick-change system in one toolholder allow you to buy fewer tools. Best of all, this flexibility doesn’t compromise rigidity or performance.
The base units allow customers to clamp tools directly into the ER collet of the toolholders—no additional purchases necessary. If customers acquire additional types of tooling in the future, they can be accommodated easily by using standard milling adapters, which are mounted directly into the base unit by replacing the ER clamping collet.
Base units can come in a straight or right angle configuration, which–combined with a wide range of adapters available–cover virtually any machining process requirement.
This approach enables a manufacturer to invest incrementally in a range of options with minimal initial capital requirements. It also accommodates multiple setups and frequent changeovers required for short manufacturing runs in today’s production environment.
4 Benefits
• Cost efficiency. With a minimal initial investment, manufacturers can get unprecedented mileage out of toolholders. Start by simply clamping the cutting tools directly into the toolholder using a standard ER collet. You don’t have to buy a complete quick-change system right off the bat.
• Reduced setup time. For all manufacturers, time is money. The longer it takes to change from one tool to another, the longer production is paused. Setup delays can cut into productivity and limit profits. In contrast, cutting tools in quick-change adapters can be preset while the machine is operating, meaning that the setup time for tool change at the machine can be reduced significantly.
• User-friendly handling. Changing tools is quick and easy. Certain systems use one-hand wrenches to lock the tools at the spindle, which frees the operator’s hands for quick and safe tool change in the machine.
• Improves tool change handling. In the past, changing tools was difficult, time consuming, and in some cases risky. Not so with innovative quick-change systems. Instead, quick-change tooling systems are qucik, easy, and offer safe tool change handling. SMT
Thomas Mittmann is president of Mittmann Inc., Canadian distributor for WTO.
