Craftsman Tools Ltd

Craftsman Capto Toolholding

The Craftsman Capto™ toolholder is the first universal quick-changing tooling system suitable for milling, turning, drilling and boring. The use of a Capto™ toolholder with your CNC machine will reduce set-up times and increase your productivity considerably. It offers exceptional repeatability to within 2 microns, is lightweight and easy to handle, and has a very strong coupling. Capto™ toolholders are available for the full range of coupling sizes (C3, C4, C5, C6 and C8) and are compatible with most of the major machine tools, including those from Doosan, Mazak, Mori Seiki, Okuma and Haas. We can also offer special solutions to suit other machines. Get in touch to find out more.

Power Driven Toolholders

Craftsman offers an innovative range of power driven tooling designed specifically for the Mazak range of lathes. These have been developed in close consultation with Mazak and are based on more than 50 years of experience in the design and manufacture of toolholding systems. Our power driven toolholders come as fully sealed units and can operate at speeds of up to 6,000rpm. Induction hardened gears and top quality bearings ensure smooth and accurate operation, while the option of through-tool coolant allows the toolholder to reach the very highest speeds with maximum reliability. Find out more about our power driven toolholders by visiting Craftsman Tools Ltd online.

Static Toolholders

At Craftsman Tools Ltd we have been supplying UK customers with Mazak toolholders for more than 25 years. Our close working relationship with Mazak’s UK base in Worcester and its facilities in Singapore and the USA has resulted in a reciprocal transfer of knowledge and information, meaning we can provide comprehensive support for the products we supply. Craftsman Tools can offer static Mazak toolholders in both metric and imperial sizes and for the following series:

• Quick Turn (QT)
• Super Quick Turn (SQT)
• Multiplex (MP)
• Nexus (QTN)
• Slant Turn (ST)
• Dual Turn (DT)
• Integrex
• Super Quadrex (SQR)

For information, please head over to our website or get in touch on 01943 466788.

Cube Type Workholding Tools

Craftsman Tools can supply cube type workholding systems either from our standard stock range of plain faced cubes or as bespoke items designed to meet your exact requirements. These cubes enable you to load your horizontal machining centre pallet with the maximum number of components, reducing the need for changeovers and increasing productivity considerably. They are made from the highest quality, close grain cast iron and can be produced with base mountings to suit any machining centre. Cubes can also be supplied pre-drilled to suit your existing fixturing. Get in touch to find out more.

Expanding Mandrels and Collet Chucks

Expanding mandrels offer a solution to many workholding problems. By holding parts on most of the datum bore, the clamping forces are more evenly distributed and thus distortions during part manufacture are greatly reduced. 

Expanding mandrels are particularly suitable for holding high volume parts that have short cycle times or require the highest levels of concentricity. At Craftsman Tools Ltd we manufacture our mandrels to meet your specifications. There are many different mounting styles available, including spindle nose, between centres, Morse taper and faceplate, and a variety of actuation methods can be used, including drawbar, cantilever nut and front nut. 

Find out more by visiting Craftsman Tools Ltd online. 

Fixturing

We can design and manufacture special fixturing solutions to suit any component during any stage of the manufacturing or inspection process. Our fixturing systems are designed to improve your productivity in a number of ways:

• Purpose built part location and quick release clamping greatly reduces set-up times.
• Increased rigidity allows faster machining and improved accuracy.
• Multiple loading of parts means batch production time is also greatly reduced. 

To produce special fixturing systems we use the latest 3D CAD packages. All components are subject to rigorous quality checks and are accredited to ISO 9001:2000. 

Centres

Our rotating centres have been designed to offer the exceptional precision, high load-carrying capacity and durability demanded by modern CNC machines. They benefit from:

• Low profile bodies for improved tool accessibility.
• Accuracy to within 0.003mm.
• High running speeds up to 8,000rpm.
• Pre-loaded, ultra-precision angular contact bearings for improved productivity.

Subcontract Services

As well as providing a comprehensive range of toolholding and workholding equipment, Craftsman Tools Ltd offers subcontract precision engineering services for clients across many industry sectors. At our facility in Otley, West Yorkshire, we can undertake a variety of manufacturing tasks, including horizontal and vertical turning, horizontal and vertical milling, surface grinding, universal grinding, wire EDM, TIG welding and hydrostatic pressure testing. Through our service partners we can also offer heat treatment, surface coating, wire and spark erosion, material analysis, non-destructive testing and chemical blacking. Get in touch to find out more.

Supply Chain Management

We can offer our customers a complete supply chain management service in which we handle all stages of the production process, from sourcing materials and machining the parts right through to the application of coatings, final assembly and product testing.  We have over 50 years of experience providing comprehensive subcontract services to the petrochemical, aerospace and automotive industries, and we currently have partnership agreements with several blue-chip OEMs in the oil and gas industry. If you would like to discuss a project with a member of our team, just give us a call on 01943 466788.