Expansion of quick tool-change system for lathes

German toolholder manufacturer EWS Tool Technologies has introduced modularity into its standard product line by unveiling ‘EWS.Varia Next’. In the UK and Ireland, the company’s products are sold by sole agent Nydaloxe Precision.

While the EWS philosophy of retaining permanent base toolholding units in a lathe turret and exchanging modular adapters with clamped cutting tools has been established practice for more than a decade, the company now has a unified ecosystem across the company’s entire range of lathe toolholders.

With the Varia system, operators do not have to detach the complete tool holder. Instead, they complete an easy, rapid, one-handed changeover at the interface of a pre-set tool in its adapter and a base unit, a procedure that takes about 20 seconds, representing a time saving of up to 90%.

The launch restructured the modular range into three generations centred around a single base unit. It utilises a combination of taper-and-face contact offering ±0.002 mm repeatability together with a mechanical mechanism that pushes an adapter out of a base unit when the clamping screw is loosened. This breaks the tight taper seal, preventing lock-up from the presence of coolant or chips, or due to thermal expansion, and facilitating adapter removal.

For high-speed and high-torque machining operations, the company also offers the new VXP high-performance milling series. The design features a patented double-cone flex damping interface, whereby an extra cone with built-in compliance is added at the rear of the base unit. It enlarges the distance between the adapter’s front and rear supports, improving rigidity and reducing vibration.

The milling toolholders are complemented by the compact VXT series for static turning, which also features double-cone flex in its design. The system employs an external clamping ring to leave the inner bore free for inserting deep boring bars, while maintaining a short overhang near the turret.

Completing the line up is the original VX series for standard operations, which ensures that adapters having a legacy profile remain backwards-compatible with the new VXP and VXT base toolholding units.

The updated 2026 generation line up supports over 60 adapter profiles, including collet chucks, shrink-fit holders, hydraulic chucks and specialised interfaces for specific makes of CNC lathe. All are equipped with integrated diaphragm seals capable of handling internal coolant pressures up to 100 bar.

The full ‘EWS.Varia Next’ system is available with turnkey starter kits that include essential mounting blocks, torque wrenches and storage options to enable seamless adoption.