Kennametal Inc.

Victor D Mogilnicki

Thomas J Presby

David L Lewis

Alan C Lyons

Donald E Meachum

An angle spindle attachment for a vertically movable spindle unit is provided for rotating a cutting tool in a generally horizontal orientation. The attachment includes a spindle assembly having a drive train that is mechanically independent from the drive train of the vertically movable spindle unit, and a connector block for detachably connecting the spindle assembly at a transverse angle with respect to the vertically movable spindle unit. The connector block may include an angular adjustment mechanism that allows the spindle assembly to be oriented at an angle above or below the horizontal, as well as a rotational adjustment assembly that allows the spindle assembly to be pivotally adjusted about the axis of rotation of the vertically movable spindle unit. The independent drive train of the spindle assembly may be either electrically, hydraulically, or pneumatically powered, and allows the cutting tool to be held more rigidly, operated with less eccentric movement, and turned at speeds that are not limited by the drive train of the vertically movable spindle unit.

Angle spindle attachment

A toolholder 1 of the type including a collet 5 integrally formed with a shank 3 is provided with an interface between a locknut 7 and collet 13 which substantially reduces the torque required to turn the locknut 7 into a position which radially collapses the collet segments 17. In this interface, one of either the inner locknut surface 23 or the outer surfaces of the collet segments 17 includes an engaging portion 56 for wedgingly flexing the collet segments 17 inwardly when the locknut is turned, and a non-engaging portion 58 disposed between the engaging portion 56 and the shank mounted ends of the collet segments 17. The non-engaging portion 58 reduces the torque required to turn the locknut 7 by reducing the binding forces that would otherwise occur between the ends of the collet segments 17 and the inner locknut surface 23. To further reduce torque, the collet portion interconnecting the collet segments 17 with the shank 3 of the toolholder is rendered thinner by the provision of circumferential grooves 72, 76 that make the collet segments 17 more flexible. Sealing rings 66, 74, 81 are seated in grooves 68, 72, 76 present in the interior defined by the collet segments 17 in order to prevent errant flows of coolant or debris from collecting between the collet segments 17 and the tool shank 9 gripped thereby.

Endmill adapter with torque reducing locknut and collet interface

A collet is designed for a tool having a cylindrical shank and a square drive at the rearward end of the cylindrical shank. The collet includes a collet body having a plurality of radially compressible collet segments. An axial bore is formed in the collet body for receiving the cylindrical shank of the tool. The tool is secured in the axial bore by collapsing the collet segments around the cylindrical shank of the tool. A grip-forming slot extends through a midsection of the collet body and communicates with the axial bore so as to receive the square drive of the tool when the tool is inserted into the axial bore. A pair of gripping surfaces are formed on respective collet segments on opposite sides of the grip-forming slot for gripping opposed surfaces of the square drive when the collet segments are radially collapsed to prevent radial movement of the tool.

Collet for a square-shank tap

Tigthening fixture with built-in torque readout device

A rotary tool connecting assembly is provided for use as a tap driver for transmitting torque to a tap. The assembly comprises an adapter receiver for receiving and securing a tap, a chuck body having one end which is detachably connectable to the spindle, and an opposing end having an axially aligned recess for slidably receiving the adapter receiver, and a mechanism for transmitting torque from the chuck body to the adapter receiver while allowing the receiver to freely axially slide within the recess of the chuck body that includes a plurality of linear roller bearings disposed between a single flat wall present on the side of the receiver and a flat bearing wall that defines a portion of the recess in the chuck body. The flat bearing wall of the chuck body is provided by a bearing insert which is compliantly seated within a slot in the chuck in order to keep its bearing wall parallel with the flat bearing wall of the adapter receiver when substantial amounts of torque are applied to the assembly. The resulting parallelism maintains a uniform rolling contact between the linear rollers and the two flat bearing surfaces completely along the length of each of the roller bearings during high torque conditions, which not only reduces friction in the axial direction but also decreases tool wear.

Linear roller tap driver assembly

An apparatus and method for balancing a high speed rotary tool assembly (1) is provided, wherein the apparatus includes a rotary tool holder (3) having an axis of rotation (11), a cutting tool retainer (13) in the rotary tool holder (3) having a lockring (23) that circumscribes the axis of rotation (11) of the holder (3), and a pair of axially spaced balancing rings (35a, 35b) for balancing the entire rotary tool assembly (1) which are rotatably mounted around bearing surfaces (37) circumscribing the lockring (23) so as to be angularly positionable around the axis of rotation (11) of the tool holder (3). In the method of the invention, the unbalance of the tool holder (3) and cutting tool (17) is first determined, and then the rings (35a, 35b) are rotatably adjusted about the bearing surface (11) on the lockring (23) to create an unbalance which cancels out the determined unbalance of the tool holder (3) and cutting tool. The balancing rings (35a, 35b) are then secured in the unbalanced-neutralizing position by means of set screws (50). The positioning of the balancing rings (35a, 35b) on an existing lockring (23) of the assembly (1) advantageously allows the apparatus of the invention to be easily retrofitted onto a standard rotary tool holder with a minimum amount of machining and parts.

Apparatus and method for balancing a rotary tool assembly

The present invention is a tool holder for receiving an endmill or similar tool. The tool holder includes a shank portion adapted to fit into the spindle of a machine, and a closed end collet integrally formed with the shank portion. The collet includes an axial bore for receiving the tool and a plurality of resilient collet segments for gripping the tool. The collet segments are separated by a plurality of axially extending slots which terminate inwardly from the forward end of a collet. A continuous tie ring extends around the forward end of a collet and joins the plurality of collet segments together. The continuous tie ring provides for increased radial stiffness at the forward end of the collet which improves accuracy and repeatability of tool location. A lock nut threads onto the collet to collapse the collet segments radially inwardly to grip the tool.

Endmill adapter with integral collet

A tightening fixture for tightening a lock nut on a chuck including a torque readout device for measuring the torque applied to tighten the lock nut. The tightening fixture includes a stationary support block having a torque transmitting collar rotatively mounted therein. The torque transmitting collar is designed to receive and hold the chuck so that the chuck is held nonrotatable with respect to the collar. When torque is applied to tighten the lock nut on the chuck, the chuck and collar rotate as a unit. A torque indicator is mounted in the stationary block and is responsive to the rotation of the torque transmitting collar to provide an indication of the torque applied to tighten the lock nut.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Victor D Mogilnicki