COLLET AND LOCK NUT ASSEMBLY

摘要

A collet and lock nut assembly (10) includes a collet (12) for receiving a cutting tool shank (16) and a lock nut (14) for creating a gripping force between the collet (12) and the shank (16). The collet (12) has a nose portion (24) and a body portion (26) separated by an annular groove (28). The lock nut (14) has a concentric bore (48) with a plurality of retention tabs (72) and a corresponding number of clear portions (74). The collet and lock nut assembly (10) can be easily assembled by inserting at least one retention tab (72) within the groove (28) of the collet (12), and then applying pressure to the collet (12) such that the remaining retention tabs (72) of the lock nut (14) are received within the groove (28) of the collet (12) to place the assembly (10) in a locked position. The collet (12) and cutting tool shank (16) can be drawn from the tool holder (18) by applying rotational torque to the lock nut (14). The collet (12) is easily removed from the lock nut (14) by applying pressure in any circumferential, lateral direction against the collet (12).