TER Shrink Collet Designed to Enhance Tool Life

The TER ThermoGrip ER collet is now available from Bilz. "With the development of the patented TER shrink collet, we have been able to enhance the use of collets and collet chucks in the production process," said a company spokesperson. "TER ThermoGrip collets have solid bodies, unlike common, slotted ER style collets, and are not deformed or compressed when clamping. The cutting tool is held more rigidly than with standard ER slotted collets, and tool length is preset prior to assembly in the collet chuck. When machining tough materials like titanium, the cutting tool performance is significantly improved and cutting tool life will increase."

TER is designed to profit from the main advantages of collet shrinking:

• Maximum holding forces
• Rigidity
• Low-wear monoblock properties.

"This is accomplished while using existing collet chucks or spindles," said the spokesperson. "The short and stable tool clamping with TER achieves a runout of < 3 um. Tool life is improved due to the precise guidance of the tool, and the precise change accuracy means that the length adjustment is maintained even after many cycles, with optimum results.

"The problem of time-consuming tool change in Swiss-style machines and live tools when holding a cutting tool in a flexible collet is very common. Whether it is the tight tool locations in most Swiss-style machining centers or the disassembly and reassembly of cutting tool, collet and collet nut on live tools, downtime is extensive and costly for many of these ER collet applications. This non-productive downtime impacts operating costs and increases part cost whether making short-run or long-run parts."

The TER ThermoGrip shrink fit collet can be used for all ER live tools and ER straight shank holders in Swiss-style machines. During the shrink fit process the cutting tool can be preset to a user's required tool length in the collet. This happens outside the machine, while the machine continues to make parts. "A tool change only takes seconds, and the machine will be back up and operating in a few short minutes because the collet and cutting tool area single assembly now and set back into the machine in the same tool location and gauge length as the previous tool assembly was," said the spokesperson. "No concern about over torquing of the collet nut. No concern with tool point location moving during tool change. No tool offsets and trial part runs to insure part dimensional accuracy. All of the set-up and tool change time reduction will reduce the machining cost."

Using the Bilz TER shrink fit collet and ThermoGrip system offers the advantage of being able to precisely adjust the length of the cutting tool in the collet during the shrink fit process. The collet is available in ER16, ER20, ER25 and ER32 collet sizes with inch and metric bore sizes.

For more information contact:

Tim Fara

Managing Director

Bilz Tool Company, Inc.

1140 N. Main Street

Lombard, IL 60148

847-734-9390

info@bilzusa.com

www.bilzusa.com