Zagar Collets – What You Need to Know

Zagar Collet Fixtures

Zagar manufactures custom made collet fixtures for the automotive, aerospace and other industries. In fact, Zagar is known for its ability to customize industrial collet configurations to meet specific and unique manufacturing needs. Zagar collets are great for drilling, milling, rigid tapping, tapping, reaming, boring, coolant through, and high precision grinding. As industry needs evolve, Zagar is customizing collets to fit several new applications.

Zagar Customized Collets

Basic Zagar collet fixtures feature a classic streamlined design, flexible enough to mount to most face plates and adapters. Within the basic collet line, there are two fundamental categories of collets offered by Zagar: The air or hydraulic collet fixtures for stationary applications and the air or hydraulic collet fixtures for rotating applications.

Collets for Stationary Applications

The stationary application collet fixtures may be operated horizontally or vertically. The collet remains stationary during fast positive clamping and can be removed from the top. What is nice about it, is that even with rapid positive clamping, the Zagar stationary collet clamps within .001 of true position. With its rigid construction and hardened piston, the fixture has through coolant feed capabilities. Zagar offers 8 standard clamping sizes of collets for stationary functions, and is able to problem solve if your needs are outside the standard specifications.

Additionally, Zagar produces a complete line of manual and mechanically actuated fixtures for stationary machine table or multi-station rotary index setups. Finally, automatic and manual indexing collet fixtures are available with a maximum 2″ through the fixture capacity with a wide range of position indexing capability and a half second indexing time.

Collets for Rotary Applications

Rotary Collet fixtures feature a basic piston design, with a center assembly mounted to a rotating spindle or table. These fixtures are engineered to be workhorses, with models built for taking on light duty to models built for heavy duty usage. The outer housing is held stationary by supply piping, making it secure, not rigid. It mounts to any adapter or face plate, and it’s locating boss makes for quick changeovers.

Air or Hydraulic Collet Operation

When choosing Pneumatic vs Hydraulic option here are some recommendations. Air operation is recommended for assembly applications, requiring light holding pressure. Pneumatic works well for quick cycle requirements in clean environment operations. Hydraulic operation works well on metal cutting and high torque requirements where consistent holding is required, and the environment will involve heavy chip and coolant conditions.

Zagar collet fixtures, whether light or heavy duty, are designed for your production specifications and tool room environments. Steel clamp pistons are hardened and ground for high production, high repeatability and endurance. Seal and “O” rings are selected for their industrial quality standards. Air/hydraulic fixtures develop their holding power from applied line pressure.

Fixture Installation and Collet Accessories

Zagar of course, offers installation recommendations, but also has application engineers available for your assistance on newly purchased collet fixtures. Accessories, such as Master External Collet Pads, are available in soft, hardened or ground steel. They are manufactured with a lead angle for bar stock, and are full bore for clamping. These pads are available in flat top for positioning and location. Zagar Internal collet pads, on the other hand are available in either hard or soft material in a range of sizes for different applications. Upon request, Zagar can modify to manufacturer specs.

Zagar Collet Wrenches are designed for ease of use by being available in either 3 or 4 slotted designs, designed for ease of use in tight spaces. More information on Quality Collet fixtures and accessories is available by contacting Zagar by email: sales@zagarinc.com or by calling (216) 731-0500.