Machine tapers use friction to secure a tool bit into a machine spindle. They are simple, quick, and inexpensive, with variations such as Morse, Brown & Sharp, Jarno, R8, and Jacobs Taper. Heavy-duty machines may also have threading or keying systems. Properly secured tool bits are essential for safety and productivity.
A machine taper is a fastening system that uses the principles of friction to securely lock a tool bit into the spindle of a machine tool. This is accomplished by machining a tapered profile into the shank or shaft of the tool bit that fits into a mirrored recess in the machine tool spindle. The pressure against the work piece seats the machine taper tightly and the friction across the entire contact area holds the bit firmly. Tool bits designed for light-duty applications usually rely on this friction alone to secure them, while those used in high-torque machining may also feature a keying system or be threaded. There are several types of machine taper in general use, all of which share the same basic principles and offer a quick, simple, and inexpensive method of locking the tool tip.
Tool bits designed for use in drill presses, milling machines and lathes require a secure locking system when in use. Operating bits are subjected to significant amounts of force, and an improperly secured tool bit can mar a workpiece, damage the machine, or cause serious injury to the machine operator. Machine tapers achieve this locking action by mating a tapered machined shank to a corresponding recess in the chuck. The friction created between these two surfaces creates an astonishingly secure connection and is capable of transmitting considerable torque to the tip of the tool. The simplicity of the design also means that bit changes are quick resulting in improved productivity.
Machine taper designs intended for light use machines such as drill presses typically rely on the friction created by the taper alone to lock the bit. Heavy machine cones may also include a thread cut into the two surfaces or a drawbar system to improve cone seating. Some heavy machine taper designs incorporate a key feature that also helps resist the high torque forces involved. Many tapered tool bits have matching grooves in the bit shank and chuck that allow you to use a wedge to firmly seat and remove the bit.
There are several different machine taper designs used to secure tool bits, including Morse, Brown & Sharp, Jarno, R8 and Jacobs Taper variants. Each member of this family has slight variations in design although they all function the same. Each series of conical machines typically features a range of different sizes and are generally sold in sets. This tool clamping system is much simpler and cheaper to manufacture than other types such as jaw chucks, thus making the machine taper a particularly efficient and cost-effective device.
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