Quick-change collets improve productivity

Quick-change collets help improve productivity, increase manufacturing flexibility and deliver greater process reliability for single- and multi-spindle automatic production lathes.

Hardinge HQC Quick-Change Collets help improve productivity, increase manufacturing flexibility and deliver greater process reliability for single- and multi-spindle automatic lathes.

They also apply to Hardinge collet-ready CNC lathe and chuck-style lathes used in production.

Hardinge HQC Quick-Change Collet Systems can be changed from one size collet to another size in less than 20s.

This is accomplished by using a manual or hydraulic changing wrench which compresses the collet, allowing for quick and easy removal, and quick installation of a different size collet head.

Delivering faster changeover times than standard collets, and being more flexible than conventional master collets and pads - the HQC Quick-Change Collets are high performers and are inherently versatile.

They deliver greater process reliability and ensure longer tool life.

They also accommodate bar stock size variation and enable increased spindle speeds to be used.

The HQC's flexible collet head delivers true parallel gripping with the collet segments running parallel to the stock even when there are variations in the stock size.

The collet head has a working range of +/-40 micron.

Parallel clamping minimises the potential for stock 'push back' and also requires less draw bar force than conventional collets - which enable customers to use higher feeds and speeds.

The Hardinge HQC Quick-Change Collet System exerts more gripping force and ensures greater concentricity control than standard collets, master collets and pads, or three-jaw chucks, said Hardinge.

In terms of multi-spindle automatics, the benefits from fast collet changeover times are multiplied (by the number of spindles on the machine) - and the significant productivity gains (speed, machine tool utilization etc.) that can be achieved are self evident.

Because the system requires less draw bar force to adequately grip the bar, issues and problems such as closing finger and pins breaks, (common when the bar varies beyond the range of a standard solid collet or master collet with pads) are avoided.

As well as increasing the productivity potential for multi-spindle automatic lathes, HQC Quick-Change Collets will significantly increase the performance of Hardinge collet-ready CNC lathes and chuck-style lathes too.

On chuck-style lathes, HQC Quick-Change Collets can replace bulky three-jaw chucks.

The reduction in weight and the unique, efficient design of the HQC System allows customers to increase spindle speeds (and therefore increase productivity/reduce cycle times etc) without any concern for the effects of centrifugal forces.

In addition, HQC collet heads are designed with special replaceable inserts that form a seal while holding the collet segments together.

These seals protect the spindle, collet body and draw tube from chips and coolant ingress.

Unlike other quick-change collet systems, the HQC patented slot-seal system eliminates the need to return the collet to the manufacturer to have the seals changed or re-vulcanized.

The seal (inserts) can be replaced quickly by the machine operator, further reducing operating costs and production interruptions.

Hardinge's UK's sales and marketing director, David Andrew, said: "Customers involved in high-precision, high-volume production will achieve significant productivity improvements with our HQC Quick-Change Collet Systems.

Manufacturers thinking about adapting their existing chuck-style lathes to accept collets for high-precision work should consider the HQC Quick-Change Collet System instead of a conventional spindle adapter (collet adaptation chuck) that uses conventional collets".

He said: "Fast, simple-to-use and install, and incredibly versatile - the HQC Collets are destined to have a huge impact here in the UK.".

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