Side actuated collet lock mechanism

A side actuated collet lock mechanism for securing a tool shank in a tool holder, comprising:

• a collet including a body with a passageway having an inside surface, the body of the collet including a generally parallel array of slots separated by gripping fingers;
• a drawbar including a body having a first portion including a plurality of locking tabs being at least partially disposed within the passageway of the collet, the body having second portion including a recess and a radially-extending aperture therethrough, the recess formed with a bottom surface, a first side wall and a second side wall;
• and
• a pair of wedge members threadingly received onto each end of a double-ended drive screw, the pair of wedge members and the double-ended drive screw at least partially disposed within the aperture of the drawbar, each wedge member including a first cam surface for selectively engaging the first side wall of the drawbar, and a second cam surface for selectively engaging the second side wall of the drawbar,
• wherein rotation of the double-ended drive screw in a first direction causes the first cam surface to engage the first side wall of the drawbar and move the drawbar in a first direction along its longitudinal axis such that the locking tabs of the drawbar engage the inside surface of the collet, and
• wherein rotation of the double-ended drive screw in a second direction causes the second cam surface to engage the second side wall of the drawbar and move the drawbar in a second direction along its longitudinal axis such that the locking tabs of the drawbar no longer engage the inside surface of the collet.