Shrink fit tooling technology utilizes heat-shrinking to clamp cutting tool shank in high-speed machining. This quick-change tool holding process in high-speed machining in highly efficient and it saves production time for the user.

This process is simple as the shank cutter tool is inserted into the shrink fit tool holder. The interior diameter of the shrink fit tool holder is a little smaller than the diameter of the shank cutting tool.

This interior bore of the tool holder expands with heat. As the bore grows to a sufficient size, the tool cutter automatically slides into the bore. At this point, cooling begins and the bore shrinks, exerting uniform pressure (about 10,000 lbs of force) on the surface of the cutting tool shank. This results in a tremendous gripping strength on the whole surface of the tool shank.

The three heating systems in shrink fit tooling technology are: open flame, induction heating, and hot air. Induction heating makes use of high-frequency current that flows through a metal coil. Here, you insert the tool holder into the metal coil and a high-frequency eddy current heats it up as the temperature greatly increases.

Like induction heating, open flame and hot air systems function by heating the surface of the tool holder. The difference lies in the degree to which heat goes to the holder.