Collet actuator for tool holder

A tool holder used to grip a machine tool, the tool holder comprising

• a body formed to include a collet chamber, a collet-mover chamber, a passageway in communication with the collet-mover chamber, and an exterior surface having an edge defining an access aperture opening into the passageway,
• a collet positioned in the collet chamber and formed to include a tool-receiving chamber, the collet including a tool-gripping surface adapted to grip a machine tool positioned in the tool-receiving chamber, the collet including an end face,
• a collet mover positioned in the collet-mover chamber to engage the collet, the collet mover including a first end face, a second end face spaced axially apart and facing axially away from the first end face relative to an axis of the bode an outer surface, and an inner surface, the first end face being configured to face and approach the end face of the collet the second end face being configured to engage the body the inner surface being configured to engage the collet and rotate relative to the collet, and
• a driver positioned in the passageway of the body to engage the collet mover to move the collet relative to the body along the axis to cause the tool-gripping surface of the collet to engage the machine tool, the driver being accessible to an operator through the access aperture.

A tool holder configured for mounting in a spindle of a machining center, the tool holder comprising

• a body formed to include a collet chamber, and an actuator chamber,
• a collet positioned in the collet chamber and formed to include a tool-receiving chamber, the collet including a tool-gripping surface adapted to grip the machine tool positioned to lie in the tool-receiving chamber, the tool-gripping surface including a first end and a second end spaced axially apart from the first end relative to a central axis of the collet, the collet including an externally circumferentially extending relief notch and an internally circumferentially extending relief notch to allow a portion of the collet to grip the machine tool without interference with another portion of the collet, the internally and externally circumferentially extending relief notches being positioned to lie in coaxial and coextensive relation to one another at the first end of the tool-gripping surface, and
• a collet actuator positioned in the actuator chamber to engage and move the collet relative to the body to move the tool-gripping surface of the collet into engagement with the machine tool, the body further including an exterior surface positioned to lie outside of the spindle while the tool holder is mounted on the machining center, the exterior surface including an edge defining an access aperture providing access to the collet actuator while the tool holder is mounted on the machining center so that an operator may activate the collet actuator to move the collet relative to the body while the tool holder remains mounted to the machining center.

A tool holder used to grip a machine tool, the tool holder comprising

• a drive tool,
• a body formed to include a collet chamber having a central axis,
• a collet positioned to lie in the collet chamber and formed to include a tool-receiving chamber, the collet including a tool-gripping surface adapted to grip a machine tool positioned in the tool-receiving chamber, the collet including a collet body having an end and
• means for converting rotation of the drive tool about an axis other than the central axis of the collet into axial movement of the collet relative to the body to move the tool-gripping surface of the collet into engagement with the machine tool, the converting means being positioned to lie in the body.