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ETP Transmission displays its Hydro-Fix Swiss products, which consist of hydraulic, high-precision clamping toolholders for Swiss-type lathes. These toolholders fit into a machine’s existing static tool blocks and are well suited for static front and back working operations, offer consistency, accuracy and fast cutting tool changes.

One toolholder can handle up to 26 different shank sizes with reducing sleeves. These are designed for accurate centering of the tool in a machine’s block. The Hydro-Fix Swiss products are said to drill deeper, use larger tool shanks and have a lower profile than ER collets. Other holemaking tools can also be used, such as boring bars, reamers, form tools and indexable tools — that often have larger shanks.

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Because the hydraulic toolholders and sleeve combination grip only on one specific shank size per sleeve, there is less squeezing required to grip the tool shank (0.00045″). This can give the user more gripping force than an ER collet chuck and less chance of runout.

ETP uses one activation screw which is tightened by a simple T-handle torque wrench, intended for quicker and safer tool changes versus ER collet toolholders. Gripping the shank hydraulically absorbs and reduces tool vibrations, improves surface finishes and increases the ability to hold tight part tolerances, according to the company. The torque wrench clicks once when the screw reaches the appropriate torque, eliminating overtightening and stripped threads. An extractor is used to aid in removing oily sleeves when performing tool changes in the machine.

There are hydraulic versions that activate from the front of the toolholder for machine blocks with blind holes. Some units activate from the rear, away from the tool’s cutting edge, in machines with through-hole blocks. Some units expand hydraulically in the machine block and grip the tool shank at the same time. These units center the tool inside the bore of the machine block, which can eliminate runout. 

The toolholders can reduce cycle times by eliminating travel to deep-hole stations. Users can also benefit from safer, easier and quicker tool changes versus ER collets. The company says that cutting tool changes can be done in as little as 30 seconds with higher accuracy and repeatability than typical ERs. Users can eliminate touch-offs by use of the built-in backstop adjustment screw, which can result in reduced tool change times by as much as 4 minutes per tool. The clamping units are available in front and back activation styles. ETP says it can also provide high-pressure, through-coolant toolholders for facing the subspindle on almost every brand and model of machine.