toolholding system to be discussed are universal toolholders. With two choices available—one for light-duty applications and one for medium- to heavy-duty applications—users have the possibility to gain the very important advantage of vibration damping for improved tool life and workpiece surface finish at a price point competitive with most high-end colleted toolholder systems.

These toolholders clamp tools using expansion technology similar to hydraulic toolholders, only the expansion is achieved via mechanical means instead of through a hydraulic fluid medium. This results in a toolholder system that provides the user with vibration damping and high runout accuracy—less than 0.005mm measured at the face of the toolholder.

Additional features of universal toolholders—when compared to colleted-style toolholder systems—are the ability to tighten the toolholders to a hard stop (no torque wrenches are required); a tight and secure clamping of the entire shank of the round tool (collets clamp more tightly near the nose of the toolholder and less tightly at the bottom of the clamping bore); flexible clamping through the use of standard intermediate sleeves; and, very accurate axial length adjustment through the use of an internal length adjustment screw.