Types and Uses of Woodworking Tool Holders for Machining Centers

Machining CenterWoodworking Tool HolderTypes and Uses

The woodworking tool holder is a connecting component between machine tools, and it is a key link that affects concentricity and dynamic balance. It should not be regarded as a general part. Concentricity can determine whether the cutting amount of each cutting edge component is uniform when the tool rotates once. When the spindle rotates, dynamic imbalance can cause periodic vibrations.

Today we will talk about the knowledge of handles for machining centers. CNC machine tools are widely used in factories now. These machine tools and tools come from all over the world, with different models and standards. Do you know what 7:24 means in the BT handle of a machining center? Do you know what standards BT, NT, JT, IT, and CAT are? The NT handle is pulled by a pull rod on traditional machine tools, also known as ST; the other four types of handles are pulled by the pull handle tail pin on the machining center.

The HSK vacuum woodworking tool holder deforms through the elastic deformation of the woodworking tool holder. Not only does the 1:10 taper surface of the woodworking tool holder contact the 1:10 taper surface of the machine tool spindle hole, but the flange surface of the woodworking tool holder also closely contacts the spindle surface. This double-sided contact system is superior to the ordinary woodworking tool holder of 7:24 in terms of high-speed processing, connection stiffness, and overlap accuracy. The HSK vacuum tool holder improves the system's stiffness and stability during high-speed processing, enhances product accuracy, and shortens tool change time. It plays a very important role in high-speed processing and can adapt to spindle speeds of up to 60,000 RPM. The HSK tool system is widely used in manufacturing industries such as aerospace, automotive, and precision molds.

HSK woodworking tool holders come in various specifications, including A, B, C, D, E, and F types, with A, E, and F types being commonly used in machining centers. The biggest difference between A and E types is:

1. The A type has a drive slot, while the E type does not. Therefore, the A type has a higher torque transmission and can perform some heavier cutting. The E type has a smaller torque and can only perform light cutting.

2. In addition to the drive slot, the A type woodworking tool holder also has a manual fixing hole and a directional slot, so its balance is relatively poor. The E type does not have these, making it more suitable for high-speed processing. The E and F types have the same structure, and if you want to learn CNC programming, the teachers from Crown Education can help you with learning materials. The difference is that the E and F type handles have the same name (e.g., E63 and F63), but the CONE of the F type handle is slightly smaller. That is to say, the flange diameter of E63 and F63 is φ63, while the conical size of F63 is only the same as E50. Therefore, compared to E63, F63 will be faster (the spindle bearing is smaller).

Advantages: No self-locking, allowing for quick tool loading and unloading; as long as the taper angle is processed to high precision, connection accuracy can be guaranteed, so the cost of the woodworking tool holder is relatively low. Disadvantages: The front taper hole of the spindle will expand during high-speed rotation, and the size of the expansion increases with the increase of the rotation radius and speed, which reduces the stiffness of the taper joint. Under the action of the pull rod's pulling force, the axial displacement of the handle will also change. After each tool change, the radial size of the woodworking tool holder will change, leading to instability in repeat positioning accuracy.