The ‘Easy’ Button for Tool Changing

Wouldn’t it be nice to have an “easy” button on your machines that would take care of whatever needed attention on its own, without an operator’s hand inside the machine? Machining processes would be safer, more efficient and easier to set up.

Although there’s no such thing as the easy button, there are smart tooling choices you can make that lead to efficient, safe machining and other benefits. One such technology is quick-change tooling. Although there are different types of quick-change tooling systems, they all were created for the same purposes: to increase productivity, shorten setup time, provide flexibility and save money.

One modular quick-change system on the market is said to enable machine operators to perform setups and change-overs of 15 seconds or less at one particular shop, according to the article “Shaving Seconds with Faster Quick-Change Tool Systems.” Adapters are attached to individual tools and are quickly and easily inserted into a head via a bayonet-type mount that is then secured by turning a single nut using an Allen wrench. With this system, operators simply change the adapter that holds the pre-measured tool, and the shop doesn’t have to buy as many live tools, which are expensive. Read for more information about this quick-change tooling system here.

Another system, for driven toolholders, offers a complete toolholder program for the most popular turning center models using bolt-on turrets. The base unit allows customers to clamp tools directly into the ER collet of the toolholder. The modular design means that customers do not need to buy a complete quick-change system right away, but instead can begin by simply clamping the cutting tools directly into the toolholder using a standard ER collet. Also, the system’s cutting tools can be preset without opening the machine door. Read “ER Collet Chuck and Quick-Change System in One Toolholder” for more information about this system for driven toolholders.

“The Next Step in Setup Reduction” is another article about modular quick-change tooling if you would like to read about another quick-change tooling system available.

Even without the easy button, your goals of efficiency, safety and flexibility are attainable by implementing this technology in your shop.