On Tue, 08 Mar 2016 10:58:57 -0500, Neon John wrote:

Hey gang,

My company manufactures induction heaters. We've sold a number of
heaters to CNC shops that use shrink-fit tool holders in their CNC
machines. We supply the RF source and they make the jig to hold the
collet and tool. So I've never seen an actual collet.

I want to make a setup for my salesmen to demonstrate shrink-fit tooling
replacement.

Several questions.

What would be a typical interference fit between collet and tool?

Would it be cheaper to buy a collet and say, end mill than to have
something made?

What should I expect to pay for a collet (are there various sizes?) and
where would I look to source one.

Are the collets standardized across the industry or does each CNC tool
maker use a different design.

Anyone have a damaged, worn-out or otherwise unusable collet they'd like
to donate to a worthy cause? Shipping and handling gladly paid, of
course.

Thanks,
John John DeArmond http://www.neon-john.com http://www.tnduction.com
Tellico Plains, Occupied TN See website for email address

I'm going to tell you what little I know, and then someone who actually
DOES know will come by and correct me.

1: I'm sure it'll be cheaper to buy the mills, but you may have to make
(or have made) your own collets. The collets will be a precision turning
inside and out -- the hole will need to be reamed, the outside ground.

I googled Shrink and Collet and got several pages, including this one:
http://www.onlineamd.com/product/TER...k-Collet-38207. It looks like
there's only one player at the moment, but I didn't spend much time.

2a: I don't know how much to pay. Judging from the page I found, lots.

2b: Yes, there are various sizes (and shapes), but it looks like there's
one standard.

2c: I don't know where to source one, but now you have a company name.

3: See 2b for part of the answer. I honestly don't know if shrinkable
collets are an industry standard -- try Google, and you may get many
questions answered.

I'm guessing, but I suspect that what you want to do is to make a really
nice video of someone using your machine to shrink a collet onto a tool.
Personally, I'd call up one of the shops that does it and ask if I can
show up with a camera and take up a few hours of their time -- there may
be enough good will there that they'd take you up on it, particularly if
you could afford to leave a spare machine behind when you left.

--
www.wescottdesign.com