Method for Making by Assembling a Tool to and in a Tool Holder, and the Tool and Told Holder, and the Assembled Tool and Tool Holder

Abstract

A method for making by assembling a tool to and in a tool holder, and the tool and tool holder, and the assembled tool and tool holder. The tool is shrink-fitted into a cylindrical bore of the tool holder, and a shoulder of the tool abuts an abutment face of the tool holder. A structure, such as press, a screw, a draw bolt, or a cylinder, for example, is provided to apply an axial force to the cutting tool to force the tool shoulder against the abutment face of the tool holder.

1 . A method for assembling a tool to a tool holder, said tool holder having a cylindrical bore of a first diameter at a first predetermined temperature terminating in an outer abutment face and configured to support a tool having a substantially cylindrical shank of a second diameter, said second diameter being sufficiently larger than said first diameter at said first predetermined temperature to provide a shrink-fit between said tool and said tool holder in use, said tool further comprising a shoulder portion having a third diameter substantially larger than said second diameter of said shank, said shoulder portion of said tool configured to abut said outer abutment face of said tool holder, said shoulder portion having a longitudinal length, along a common central axis of said tool, being sufficient to maintain a sufficient axial force between said cylindrical shank of said tool and said cylindrical bore of said tool holder during assembly to provide and maintain sufficient engagement between said shoulder portion and said outer abutment face during operation of said tool holder and said tool, said method comprising:
 positioning said tool and said tool holder along said common central axis;   changing the temperature of at least one of said tool and said tool holder to a second predetermined temperature, said second predetermined temperature being substantially different than said first predetermined temperature of said tool or said tool holder to permit said cylindrical shank to be inserted in said cylindrical bore of said tool holder;   assembling said tool into said tool holder, wherein said cylindrical shank of said tool is disposed in said cylindrical bore of said tool holder;   applying a sufficient axial force along said common central axis to introduce said cylindrical shank of said tool into engage with said cylindrical bore of said tool holder;   maintaining a sufficient engaging force between said outer abutment face of said tool holder and said shoulder portion of said tool to provide and maintain a shrink-fit during use of said tool between said tool and said tool holder upon termination of the assembly of said tool and said tool holder; and   allowing at least one of said tool holder and said tool to change temperature to a third predetermined temperature, while maintaining said sufficient axial force between said tool holder and said tool to provide a shrink fit between said tool and said tool holder in use.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to claim wherein said tool is a cutting tool having said substantially cylindrical shank at one end thereof, said cutting tool being provided with a central screw-threaded hole in said shank, said method further including using said screw-threaded hole in providing said axial force with an arrangement comprising a threaded portion being configured to screw into said central screw-threaded hole in said shank; and
 said arrangement comprising one of:   (A) a removable draw bolt, wherein said axial force is applied by turning and securing said removable draw bolt inserted into said central screw-threaded hole in said shank;   (B) a removable hydraulic cylinder comprising a threaded portion configured to thread into said central screw-threaded hole in said shank, wherein said axial force is applied by said threaded portion of said removable hydraulic cylinder; or   (C) an internal hydraulic cylinder comprising a threaded portion configured to thread into said central screw-threaded hole in said shank, wherein said axial force is applied by said internal hydraulic cylinder.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said tool is a cutting tool and said shoulder portion is disposed between said multiple cutting teeth of said cutting tool and said outer abutment face; and
 said tool further comprises a cutting portion disposed adjacent said shoulder portion of said tool, opposite said cylindrical shank of said tool, having one of:   a diameter substantially less than the diameter of said shoulder portion, or   a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of said shoulder portion.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said cutting portion has a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of said cylindrical shank. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said tool holder has a longitudinal axis;   said outer abutment face is radially disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tool holder;   said tool has a longitudinal axis;   said shoulder portion is radially disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tool;   said radially disposed shoulder portion of said tool is configured to abut against said radially disposed outer abutment face of said tool holder;   changing the temperature comprises heating said tool holder to a second predetermined temperature, said second predetermined temperature being higher than a predetermined temperature of said tool;   assembling said tool comprises said cylindrical shank of said tool being fitted into said cylindrical bore of said tool holder;   applying a sufficient axial force comprises forcing said cylindrical shank of said tool into a forced engagement with said cylindrical bore of said tool holder; and   allowing at least one of said tool holder and said tool to change temperature comprises allowing at least one of said tool holder and said cylindrical shank of said tool to cool to a third predetermined temperature while maintaining said sufficient axial force between said cylindrical shank of said tool and said cylindrical bore of said tool holder to provide a shrink-fit between said tool and said tool holder and to maintain a sufficient force between said outer abutment face of said tool holder and said shoulder portion of said tool to permit use of said tool in said tool holder during operation.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein said tool is a cutting tool having said substantially cylindrical shank at one end thereof, said cutting tool being provided with a central screw-threaded hole in said shank, said method further including using said screw-threaded hole in providing said axial force with an arrangement comprising a threaded portion being configured to screw into said central screw-threaded hole in said shank. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said arrangement comprises a removable draw bolt and said axial force is applied by turning and securing said removable draw bolt in said central screw-threaded hole in said shank. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said arrangement comprises a removable hydraulic cylinder comprising a threaded portion configured to thread into said central screw-threaded hole in said shank: and wherein applying said axial force is applied with said threaded portion of said removable hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said arrangement comprises an internal hydraulic cylinder having a portion threadably engageable with said screw-threaded hole; and wherein said axial force is applied by said internal hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said tool is a cutting tool having a shoulder of a third diameter substantially larger than said first diameter; and wherein said shoulder is disposed between said multiple cutting teeth of said cutting tool and said outer abutment face. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said tool further comprises a cutting portion disposed adjacent said shoulder portion of said tool opposite said cylindrical shank of said tool, said cutting portion having a diameter substantially less than the diameter of said shoulder portion or a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of said shoulder portion. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said cutting portion has a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of said cylindrical shank. 
     
     
         13 . A tool holder for removable connection to a machine tool spindle, said tool holder comprising:
 a cylindrical bore having a first diameter, said cylindrical bore terminating in an outer abutment face and configured to rigidly support a cutting tool having a substantially cylindrical shank of a second diameter slightly larger than said first diameter when said tool holder and said shank are at a first predetermined temperature, said tool having a shoulder of a third diameter substantially larger than said first diameter disposed adjacent said shank, said cylindrical bore configured to receive said shank when at least one of said bore and said shank are at a second predetermined temperature; and   a mechanism configured to apply an axial force on said cutting tool to force said tool shoulder against said outer abutment face of said too holder and to maintain shoulder contact between said tool holder and said cutting tool after said tool and said tool holder revert to said first predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         14 . The tool holder according to  claim 13  wherein the cylindrical bore is configured to receive the shank when said tool holder is at a temperature substantially higher than said cylindrical shank. 
     
     
         15 . The tool holder according to  claim 13 , in combination with a cutting tool provided with a central screw-threaded hole in said shank. 
     
     
         16 . The tool holder according to  claim 15 , wherein said axial force is applied by a removable draw bolt insertable into said central screw-threaded hole in said shank. 
     
     
         17 . The tool holder according to  claim 15 , wherein said axial force is applied by a removable or internal hydraulic cylinder provided with a connection engageable with said central screw-threaded hole in said shank or other type of connection between said hydraulic cylinder and said tool shank.