the tool, causing a harmonic, self-exciting vibration and, eventually, accuracy robbing runout. Introduced at IMTS in September, the Smart Damper from BIG Kaiser (Hoff-
man Estates, IL), a toolholder with an integrated damping system for deep-hole fi nish boring and extended reach milling, aims to solve these cascading problems. The 16" (406-mm) Smart Damper, which has a 6:1 L/D ratio, eliminates the vi- brations that force machinists to curtail speeds and output. The Smart Damper can handle cutting speeds up to 325 sfm (99.1 m/min). By correcting the vibration, manufacturers can maintain high speeds, through-
put and fi ne fi nishes. Jack Burley, VP of sales and engineering, BIG Kaiser, said he cannot discuss the technology used to deaden vibrations in the Smart Damper, except to say that it does not use fl uid as similar products do and it builds upon D-Vibe Bar technology. “It’s unique,” Burley said. “Our product is developed by BIG Daishowa in Japan, and it was developed with fi nish boring in mind fi rst.”
And although you can’t completely cheat physics, BIG Kaiser does offer a 4" (100-mm) extension on the Smart Damper.
Upgraded Collet Chuck Meanwhile, Seco Tools (Troy, MI), in February will launch an upgraded collet chuck suitable for all kinds of machining operations, including high speed. The high-precision EPB 5672, shown at IMTS in September, boasts a longer tool life, better surface fi nish due to a maximum runout of 3 microns at 3xD and higher transmittable torque and rigidity. Tool clamping force is nearly double that of existing collet chucks. What’s more, the 5672 collect chucks provide better gripping for smaller diameter tools as compared with shrink-fi t holders that excel when cutter shank diameters are over 16-mm diameter.
The new collet chuck also has reliable axial and radial positioning of the tool with accurate repeatability.
Mike Smith, product manager, Tooling Systems, Seco, said that there are plans to come out with an even slimmer line in the second quarter of this year. And while Smith said Seco “believes in shrink fi t,” he said there are cost benefi ts
with the EPB 5672. While the 5672 is about one-and-a-half times more expensive to buy than a shrink-fi t toolholder, the collet chuck doesn’t require the initial capital in- vestment of a shrink-fi t machine. Although he acknowledged that the tool exchange time with shrink fi t could be as fast as three seconds with the right machine, such as a Seco model, versus two minutes with the collet chuck, saving time that could ultimately pay for the machine.
The EPB 5672 was also designed with chrome coating to protect against oxida- tion, the highest grinding quality on the front of the taper and a stop screw with taper front with through coolant available as accessories.
Toolholding for Tapping Still using a collet chuck to tap threads? If so, you might be missing out on some important advances in tapping holders January 2013 | ManufacturingEngineeringMedia.com 79 www.HeuleTool.com 513.860.9900
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