Hardinge HQC Quick-Change Collets
Share:
Hardinge Inc., Workholding Division
August 10, 2006
Hardinge® HQC® Quick-Change Collets take the ups and downs out of bar work...
Faster changeover than standard collets and more flexible than master collets and pads, the HQC® Quick-Change Collet Systems by Hardinge offer long life, can accommodate bar stock variation and provide the opportunity for increased spindle speeds. The flexible collet head offers 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 ±1/64". Parallel clamping minimizes stock "push back" and requires less draw bar force than conventional collets. Higher feed rates and spindle speeds are possible. With its unique design, the Hardinge HQC® Quick-Change Collet System exerts more gripping force and achieves greater concentricity control than standard collets, master collets and pads, or 3-jaw chucks.
Hardinge HQC® Quick-Change Collet Systems can be changed from one size collet to another size in less than 20 seconds. This is accomplished by using a manual or hydraulic changing wrench. The wrench compresses the collet, allowing for quick and easy removal, and quick installation of a different size collet head.
Thinking in terms of multi-spindle automatics, the fast collet changeover can be multiplied by six or eight spindles! Because the system requires less draw bar force to adequately grip the bar, it reduces the breakage of closing fingers and pins common when the bar varies beyond the range of a standard solid collet or master collet with pads. HQC collets are available for multi-spindle automatic screw machines, Hardinge collet-ready CNC lathes and chuck-style lathes.
The HQC collet heads are designed with special replaceable inserts that form a seal while holding the collet segments together. The seals protect the spindle, collet body and draw tube from chips and coolant. 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 in the shop, by the machine operator, further reducing operating costs.
HQC® Quick-Change Collet Systems can be used on chuck-style lathes to replace bulky 3-jaw chucks. The reduction in weight and the unique, efficient design of the HQC System allow you to increase the spindle rpm without any concern for centrifugal forces. Hi-tech cutting tools, along with faster speeds and feeds, can boost your productivity. Chucking forces are higher than jaw chucks and even higher than solid standard and master collets. The interferences associated with jaw chucks are nonexistent with the clean contours of the Hardinge system.
If you're thinking about adapting your chuck-style lathe to accept collets for high-precision work, consider the HQC® Quick-Change Collet System instead of a conventional spindle adapter (collet adaptation chuck) that uses conventional collets. The HQC® system is shorter than standard collet adapters, gaining more working area. Machining closer to the spindle results in better total indicator reading (TIR) on finished parts.
Could you benefit by using quick-change collets? For more information call Hardinge at 800-843-8801 or visit the e-commerce site at www.hardingetooling.com.
Submitted by:
Linda Folkers, Advertising Manager
Hardinge Workholding Division
607-378-4328
linda.folkers@hardinge.com
