MST Slimline Z-Chuck shrink-fit toolholder gets a grip on safety and material wastage
1 min read
The MST Corporation Slimline Z-Chuck, now available from SGS Carbide Tool (UK), is a shrink-fit toolholder that is capable of increasing safety and reducing waste when applied to difficult-to-machine material processing, or when using aggressive cutting strategies.
The MST Slimline Z-Chuck design incorporates two independent features that eliminate the risk of the cutting tool pulling out of the holder, due to chatter or sudden loads, and also any rotational slipping of the cutter in the holder. Easily produced Z shank standards are open, so cutting tools can be modified to suit or purchased with the necessary forms. These include a 2 mm radius groove and a pair of flat surfaces. The size varies depending on the diameter of the cutting tool. The flats are used to stop the cutter slipping or twisting around the centreline of the holder, as they engage with dogs inside the chuck.
Cutting tools are loaded and unloaded in much the same way as any standard shrink-fit toolholding system, with the added turning of the tool to lock it into place.
The Slimline Z-Chuck can be specified with HSK-A63, A100 and A125, as well as BT, CAT and DIN 40 and 50 spindle interfaces. The curved nose of the toolholder provides maximum clearance when accessing the workpiece, an important consideration when using simultaneous 5-axis machining strategies.
