This invention concerns a clamping device for firmly holding a part to be clamped at a clamping recess in which the clamping device is arranged. The clamping device comprises a collet with a first external protrusion for engagement with an internal recess in an inner peripheral area of the part that is to be clamped and with a second external protrusion for engagement with an internal recess in an inner peripheral area of the clamping recess. At least one of the first external protrusion or the second external protrusion comprises a first external taper or a second external taper for pulling the part to be clamped axially into the clamping recess by a radial outward movement of the collet or a section of the collet and an operation stud including an external tapered section for effecting the radial outward movement of the collet. The connection between the operation stud and the collet is self-locked and pre-loaded after a clamping movement of the operation stud in axial direction that locks and pre-loads the external taper of the operation stud and the collet or a part between the collet and the operation stud with each other. The invention includes a method for a part to be clamped in a clamping recess.

A method of monitoring a tool clamping device mounted on a machine spindle, the clamping force of which tool clamping device is generated by a spring assembly which exerts a force in the direction of the clamping position on an actuating element actuating the clamping or the release of a tool or tool holder. In the method, the spring force and the displacement of the actuating element are continuously measured during the release and/or clamping of a tool or tool holder and recorded as functions of the time. These recorded functions are used to identify at least one parameter characteristic for the status of the tool clamping device. Based on the spring force and the displacement over time, a spring characteristic curve is plotted in the form of the spring force as a function of displacement, the analysis of which spring characteristic curve provides information about a number of characteristic parameters.

Hollow shank tool holders including stress reduction features that result in a more reliable stronger tool holder are disclosed. The tool holders include an elliptical undercut contoured relief surface adjacent to the clamping surface to substantially reduce or eliminate a stress point. The elliptical undercut allows for no changes to be made to the clamping surfaces of the tool holder.

Hollow shank tool holders including stress reduction features that result in a more reliable stronger tool holder are disclosed. The tool holders include an elliptical undercut contoured relief surface adjacent to the clamping surface to substantially reduce or eliminate a stress point. The elliptical undercut allows for no changes to be made to the clamping surfaces of the tool holder.

Provided is a lathe capable of elongating the life of a shifter mechanism. A lathe comprises a spindle, a chucking unit, a power transmitting unit, a shifter, a claw, and a driving unit. The shape of an outer circumference of the shifter in a contact range and a first end of the claw in longitudinal section along the spindle axis is such shape as the acceleration a of the first end in the diameter direction with respect to the moving distance of the shifter moving in the direction of the spindle axis (Z-axis direction) at a constant speed is continuous both in a positive range and in a negative range where the contact range is a range of the outer circumference of the shifter in contact with the first end of the claw.

A clamping device for clamping a workpiece or a tool or, more specifically, a tool holding fixture in a machine part of a machine tool includes a tension rod slidably mounted within the machine part; a clamping set movable by the tension rod between clamped and released positions; a tension spring dedicated to the tension rod so as to generate the pull-in force of the clamping set; and a release mechanism, by which the clamping set can be moved against the force of the tension spring into the released position by the tension rod. To make possible effective clamping at optimum force, the tension spring is clamped between first and second rod parts of the tension rod. The second rod part can move relative to the first rod part, and, as the clamping set moves into the released position, is compressed on both ends by the release mechanism by moving the two rod parts in opposite directions.

A rotating-tool main shaft includes a hollow ram, a hollow main shaft, a collet, a draw bar that moves the collet in the axial direction, a hydraulic cylinder that moves forwardly the draw bar, and a disc spring that moves backwardly the draw bar. The draw bar includes a spring catch which is retained in the hollow main shaft so as to be movable, and which catches the disc spring. The disc spring is placed in the hollow main shaft, and is placed within a distance that is at least a half of a distance from a tip of the draw bar to the spring catch in the axial direction.

A spindle unit for machine tools that includes a working spindle rotationally bearing-mounted in axially spaced spindle bearings in a spindle case, and an electric driving motor. The working spindle includes at its head side a clamping device for a tool and at its rear side a non-rotating ring cylinder for activating said clamping device via a rotating tie rod, and rotational bushing for supplying said tool with cooling and/or lubricating agents through a hydraulic conduit extending longitudinally through said working spindle. At least a segment of the non-rotating ring cylinder may be received in the rear end portion of said working spindle.

A spindle apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a housing, a spindle rotatably installed in the housing, a tool releasably engaged with one end of the spindle and having an insert tip movable in a radial direction of the tool, a first draw-bar movably mounted in the spindle, and a second draw-bar movably mounted in the first draw-bar. The tool and one end of the first draw-bar are releasably engaged with the one end of the spindle by a movement of the first draw-bar, and the insert tip is configured to move in the radial direction by a movement of the second draw-bar.

This invention concerns a clamping device for firmly holding a part to be clamped at a clamping recess in which the clamping device is arranged. The clamping device comprises a collet with a first external protrusion for engagement with an internal recess in an inner peripheral area of the part that is to be clamped and with a second external protrusion for engagement with an internal recess in an inner peripheral area of the clamping recess. At least one of the first external protrusion or the second external protrusion comprises a first external taper or a second external taper for pulling the part to be clamped axially into the clamping recess by a radial outward movement of the collet or a section of the collet and an operation stud including an external tapered section for effecting the radial outward movement of the collet. The connection between the operation stud and the collet is self-locked and pre-loaded after a clamping movement of the operation stud in axial direction that locks and pre-loads the external taper of the operation stud and the collet or a part between the collet and the operation stud with each other. The invention includes a method for a part to be clamped in a clamping recess.