Abstract: A lightweight cutting tool, such as a reamer, includes a front cutting body, a front cutting ring, a center tube, a rear cutting ring and a rear machine connection member. An arm assembly of the front and rear cutting heads includes one or more leading arms, one or more trailing arms and a cutting head supported by the leading and trailing arms. The leading arms and the trailing arms curve in opposite directions. To reduce weight and moment of inertia of the reamer, a cross-sectional area of the leading arms and the trailing arms is largest proximate the sleeve member and is smallest proximate the cutting head. In addition, the front cutting body, the front and rear cutting rings and the center tube may be made by additive manufacturing. Fluid can be transported entirely through the reamer to the cutting insert/workpiece interface and the guide pad/workpiece interface.

Abstract: A lightweight cutting tool, such as a reamer, includes a front cutting body, a front cutting ring, a center tube, a rear cutting ring and a rear machine connection member. An arm assembly of the front and rear cutting heads includes one or more leading arms, one or more trailing arms and a cutting head supported by the leading and trailing arms. The leading arms and the trailing arms curve in opposite directions. To reduce weight and moment of inertia of the reamer, a cross-sectional area of the leading arms and the trailing arms is largest proximate the sleeve member and is smallest proximate the cutting head. In addition, the front cutting body, the front and rear cutting rings and the center tube may be made by additive manufacturing. Fluid can be transported entirely through the reamer to the cutting insert/workpiece interface and the guide pad/workpiece interface.

Abstract: A toolholder assembly includes a toolholder having a rearwardly facing toolholder shank, a base member having a bore configured for receiving the toolholder shank, a lock rod with an axial forward and an axial rearward end, at least one locking member in communication with the axial forward end of the lock rod, and a flexible canister configured for receipt in the bore of the base member. The flexible canister includes at least one flexible feature that reduces a stiffness (i.e., increases flexibility) of the flexible canister. In one aspect, the flexible feature is a slot proximate a locking passageway of the canister.

Abstract: A hardware fastener with a movable threaded element suspended within a cavity formed in a body. The movable threaded element has an internal surface with threads for cooperating with a threaded fastener. The movable threaded element is suspended in the cavity by the one or more spring-like members such that an area, A, of reduced stiffness is created in the cavity proximate the movable threaded element, thereby allowing the movable threaded element to move a predetermined distance within the cavity when torque is applied to the threaded fastener. The one or more spring-like members store elastic potential energy to prevent the loss of pretension of the threaded fastener that can be caused by heat or vibration. The invention also eliminates the need for a torque wrench when tightening the threaded fastener to a specified torque value.

Abstract: A collet includes an axially rearward end and an axially forward end; a nose portion; a body portion having an outer surface and an inner surface for engaging a shank of a tool; a plurality of slots extending from the inner surface to the outer surface; and a plurality of coolant channels disposed within the collet between the plurality of longitudinally extending slots and extending entirely from the axially rearward end to the axially forward end of the collet. Slots include a first slot extending from the axial forward end to within an intermediary zone, a second slot extending from the axial rearward end to at least the tool holder engagement zone such that the second slot does not intersect the first slot, and a third slot from within the tool engagement zone to within the intermediary zone such that the third slot circumferentially overlaps the first and second slots.

Abstract: A toolholder assembly includes a toolholder having a rearwardly facing toolholder shank, a base member having a bore configured for receiving the toolholder shank, a canister configured for receipt in the bore of the base member, a lock rod with an axial forward and an axial rearward end, wherein the axial forward end of the lock rod includes a compression void such as a compression aperture or compression slot formed therethrough, and at least one locking member in communication with the axial forward end of the lock rod.

Abstract: In one aspect, composite tool holders are described herein comprising advantageous structural arrangements of metal carbide and alloy components. Briefly, a composite tool holder comprises a metal carbide shank comprising a bore having an inner diameter and outer diameter. An alloy sleeve is positioned in the bore for engaging a tool, wherein the alloy sleeve is bonded to inner diameter surfaces of the bore via a crosslinked adhesive.

Abstract: A collet includes an axially rearward end and an axially forward end; a nose portion; a body portion having an outer surface and an inner surface for engaging a shank of a tool; a plurality of slots extending from the inner surface to the outer surface; and a plurality of coolant channels disposed within the collet between the plurality of longitudinally extending slots and extending entirely from the axially rearward end to the axially forward end of the collet. The slots include a first slot extending from the axial forward end to within an intermediary zone, a second slot extending from the axial rearward end to at least the tool holder engagement zone such that the second slot does not intersect the first slot, and a third slot from within the tool engagement zone to within the intermediary zone such that the third slot circumferentially overlaps the first and second slots.

Abstract: A clamping unit includes a drawbar having an interior surface defining a fluid transport channel. A fluid transport pipe is at least partially disposed within the interior of the drawbar and is in fluid communication with a fluid transport adapter and a fluid transport channel to enable high pressure fluid to be provided directly to a toolholder. The clamping unit further comprises at least one spring-like member positioned around the outer surface of the drawbar to provide a biasing force against an end plate. The drawbar is movable along a longitudinal axis between a locked position and a tool release position by applying and not applying hydraulic pressure against the end plate, thereby providing a quick-change feature of the invention.

Abstract: A clamping unit includes a drawbar having an interior surface defining a fluid transport channel. A fluid transport pipe is at least partially disposed within the interior of the drawbar and is in fluid communication with a fluid transport adapter and a fluid transport channel to enable high pressure fluid to be provided directly to a toolholder. The clamping unit further comprises at least one spring-like member positioned around the outer surface of the drawbar to provide a biasing force against an end plate. The drawbar is movable along a longitudinal axis between a locked position and a tool release position by applying and not applying hydraulic pressure against the end plate, thereby providing a quick-change feature of the invention.

Abstract: A collet includes an axially rearward end and an axially forward end; a nose portion; a body portion having an outer surface and an inner surface for engaging a shank of a tool; a plurality of slots extending from the inner surface to the outer surface; and a plurality of coolant channels disposed within the collet between the plurality of longitudinally extending slots and extending entirely from the axially rearward end to the axially forward end of the collet. The slots include a first slot extending from the axial forward end to within an intermediary zone, a second slot extending from the axial rearward end to at least the tool holder engagement zone such that the second slot does not intersect the first slot, and a third slot from within the tool engagement zone to within the intermediary zone such that the third slot circumferentially overlaps the first and second slots.

Abstract: A toolholder assembly includes a toolholder having a rearwardly facing toolholder shank, a base member having a bore configured for receiving the toolholder shank, a canister configured for receipt in the bore of the base member, a lock rod with an axial forward and an axial rearward end, wherein the axial forward end of the lock rod includes a compression void such as a compression aperture or compression slot formed therethrough, and at least one locking member in communication with the axial forward end of the lock rod.