SK Collet Chucks – Accuracy & Precision
Accuracy and precision is designed into the SK collet chuck to optimize machine tool performance. SK collet chucks can be used for all applications, for milling, drilling, reaming, or tapping.
Due to Nikken’s special heat treatment, grinding and custom slotting process, they are able to guarantee a 5 micron runout tolerance for their "on size" fractional and metric size precision collets.
Some common challenges that manufacturers face when machining can be short tool life, poor part quality, or poor surface finish on a workpiece. Here are some SK collet chuck design features that can help solve those problems:
Titanium Nitrided (TiN) Bearing Nut Improves Rigidity – the uniquely designed gold ring reduces collet damage, reduces micro vibration with the collet flange, and eliminates friction with the collet. It improves the cutting rigidity and the quality of the cut compared to traditional collet chucks.
Narrow Body Allows Access to Tight Spaces – and provides better clearance.
Taper Angle Provides Increased Gripping Power – The SK’s 8-degree collet seats deeper in the body of the holder, providing double the clamping force and precision than traditional 16-degree collets.
The illustration below shows a side by side comparison of the design features, and effects they can have on machining, between the design of the Lyndex-Nikken SK collet chuck versus other toolholders. The Lyndex-Nikken SK collet chuck provides high machining accuracy due to flat shoulder pushing. This is achieved with the combination of the simple and rigid Titanium Nitrided (TiN) Bearing Nut and 8-degree taper. Other toolholders have designs that result in taper shoulder pushing that results in unstable runout and poor gripping torque. Reason being is that they have a complicated nut that changes the balance of the toolholder during high-speed rotation. Additionally, their wider angle collets can misalign causing poor runout and gripping force.
Watch this video to hear more about how machining with the SK collet chuck improves machining versus using other toolholders:
SK Collet Chuck – Proven Toolholder Technology
With over 1 million SK collet chucks and over 15 million SK collets sold worldwide, the SK is proven toolholder technology that manufacturers prefer due to the advanced design that consistently performs – here’s why:
- Lean – narrow body design allows access to tight spots
- Versatile – applicable for all milling, drilling, reaming, and rigid tapping applications
- Flexible – covers sizes from 0.028” to 1”
- Accurate – 2x more accurate than ER collet chucks, within 10x better repeatability
- Extremely Precise – 0.0002” or less concentricity guarantee with on-size collets
Double Gripping Power – with an 8-degree collet taper, the SK collet chuck has double the gripping power over ER collet chucks
In fact, cutting tool manufacturers use SK toolholders because of their superior runout and gripping force enabling great performance at the spindle. Don Grandt, National Application Engineer at Harvey Performance, uses SK holders with his cutting tools because of that exact reason. When Harvey Performance designs tools, they want to make sure they eliminate factors that may cause chipping or fracturing so they can dial into the design of their cutting tool. So, they use SK holders to give them an edge over their competitors - hear more about what Don has to say:
Aerospace and defense manufacturers also see clear benefits of using SK collet chucks over shrink fit or ER collet chucks. Jeffrey Sundwall, CNC Machine Shop Production and Tool Manager, at Chemring Energetic Devices was initially looking for shrink fit holders to machine aerospace and defense parts. But after Lyndex-Nikken did comparison cuts for him using shrink fit, SK collet chucks, and ER collet chucks, the SK holder by far produced the best results due to clean chips and no vibration from the machine. Jeff was sold on Lyndex-Nikken SK collet chucks! Watch the video to hear directly from Jeffrey:
Additionally, medical manufacturers are reaping the benefits of using SK collet chucks over ER collet chucks as well. Phil Linscheid, Director of Manufacturing, at Hamilton Company added a lot of high-precision machines to their shop, he needed to up their game with a trusted brand that had more reliable toolholders. They used to use ER collet chucks but upgraded to Lyndex-Nikken's SK collet chucks as they couldn't have runout with their new 20,000 RPM machines. The SK collet chuck provides high machining accuracy due to flat shoulder pushing. This is achieved with the combination of the simple and rigid Titanium Nitrided (TiN) Bearing Nut and 8-degree taper. Hear more from Phil:
SK collet chucks are also available in Taper Plus which combines taper accuracy with flange rigidity.
SK Coolant Thru Options
The SK collet chuck features a unique high-pressure coolant collet system that allows for higher accuracy and gripping torque. Standard collets can be used in coolant thru applications (with back-up screws).
SK is ideal for use with coolant thru tools (when coolant nut is paired with the coolant-thru slotted disk) as well as non-coolant thru tools (when coolant nut is paired with the slotted disk).
SK Collet Chucks Versus ER Collet Chucks
Every machining application is unique and requires toolholders that are designed to enable the desired performance. When deciding between an SK collet chuck versus an ER collet chuck, manufacturers should consider these critical points:
Difference in Design for Better Clearance - A notable visual difference between an SK and ER collet chuck is the clearance. The SK narrow body and nut allows for better clearance in tight spaces as well as greater depth of cut on axial and radial cuts compared to an ER collet chuck.
Difference in Nut Clamping Force Affects Rigidity - Additionally, when comparing the ER and SK nuts and how the nut presses down on the collet, the traditional ER collet chuck nut presses down diagonally towards the center line of the toolholder. On the other hand, the SK collet chuck’s Titanium Nitrided (TiN) bearing nut presses straight down with the force parallel to the center line of the toolholder. So, the SK collet will not misalign or rock within the toolholder – providing better rigidity and concentricity.
Difference in Collet Taper Angle Affects Gripping Force - The collet taper of an SK is 8-degrees, versus the ER which is 16-degrees. This enables the SK to provide double the gripping force and greater precision. The contact surface between collet and chuck is increased and the direction of the force allows for better gripping force.
See and hear more about why the SK collet chuck out performs the ER collet chuck in this video:
In summary, here's why the SK collet chuck outperforms the ER collet chuck:
- Better Clearance
- Innovative Titanium Nitride Nut (TiN Nut) Design - will not misalign or rock
- Improved Runout Accuracy - improves tool life
- Better Gripping Strength – Allows for greater depths of cut and prevents cutter pull out
Better Vibration Dampening Characteristics - enables better surface finish and part precision
Videos: Why Manufacturers Choose Lyndex-Nikken SK Collet Chucks
Hear and see for yourself how Lyndex-Nikken quality toolholders, rotary tables, presetters, machine tool accessories, and automation provides optimal machining solutions for:
