FAQ & ENQUIRIES

A live tool is a tool holder which mounts on the turret of a CNC lathes or mill/turn center.
Its input shaft is driven from the turret side and its output shaft holds a cutting tool to carve material from the part. Between input and output shaft is a mechanical connection via a solid spindle or a gear box.

Live tools increase the efficiency/profitability and the ROI of a CNC lathe.
Secondary operations to machine complex parts can be made in one set up in the lathe.
The lathe is no longer limited to turning parts but can also do milling, engraving, thread cutting in various axis and angles, gear hobbing, broaching and even power skiving. 

WTO tool holders are designed and manufactured under one roof in Germany. A modern fully automated smart factory is prepared to face the future at WTO. https://www.wto-tools.com/en-us/company

Mittmann Inc. is since 1999 the exclusive sales partner of WTO GmbH Germany in Canada. Mittmann Inc. works with distributors all over Canada. www.mittmann.com

The factory warranty covers WTO products for 12 months. Repairs are covered for 3 months.

The WTO Service center in Charlotte NC, provides factory service in North America including Canada and Mexico. https://www.wto-tools.com/en-us/contact/service

DTH life time depends on cutting application and operation conditions.

Wear items such as bearings and seals need to be replaced periodically.

Recommended service interval is

• 12 months under normal conditions in 2 shifts.

• 6 months when operating under 3 shifts or heavy conditions or high RPM.

• 6 months for DTH with internal coolant supply.

Maintenance includes cleaning the inside of the DTH and lubricating the bearings and gears.

Maintenance work must be performed by WTO factory owned service centers or by staff who are trained by WTO.

Different applications call for specific live tools. Beside straight and 90 degree angled executions there are tool holders with adjustable angle, tool holders with multiple spindlers (Y-Axis, main & sun spindle), slotting units, gear hobbing units, broaching units for internal and external splines and keyways and power skiving units.  https://www.wto-tools.com/en-us/start

WTO offers online or by request machine specific tool holder catalogs. All tool holders in each catalog fit exactly the machine the catalog is made for. The customer can’t go wrong. In case of a doubt contact your sales partner to get advise.

Modern tool holders are usually bolted to the turret for highest rigidity. It’s not convenient to remove the tool holder to do a tool change. With tool quick change the cutting tool can be removed and replaced within seconds. In addition adaptors with preset cutting tools inside enhance the speed of the tool change. This saves set up time and money.

Quickflex is a flexible quick change system. A tool holder with QuickFlex interface can receive ER collets to clamp cutting tools or various different types of adapters. This way the same base holder can be used for completely different jobs. The tool change lasts as expected for a quick change system, only a few seconds. QuickFlex holders do not necessarily require the use of adapters, they can also just work with regular ER collets to clamp a tool. The adaptors are an optional up grade. 
https://www.wto-tools.com/en-en/products/turning-centers/quickflex

External coolant only holders spray the coolant through a nozzle to the tip of the cutting tool. In the tool holder itself are drilled coolant channels to feed coolant from the coolant inlet to the outlet. There is no need for seals inside. Coolant through tool holders allow the coolant to go inside of the output spindle. This cools the cutting tool inside and at the cutting edge. At high coolant pressure and high speed, this requires high tech sealing technology so that the seals involved don’t get hot by friction and don’t leak. WTO’s newest sealing technology allows permanent dry run of the seals at highest rpm and high coolant pressure!

No, WTO focuses on standard tool holders. Mittmann Inc. offers custom made tool holders made by ROMAI Germany.

CoolSpeed^® is a revolutionary, patented spindle technology that can reach rotation speed of up to 80,000 rpm. Driven by coolant, cutting oil or air mist – to be used on almost any machine with minimal investment. https://www.wto-tools.com/en-en/products/coolspeed-ultra-high-speed-spindles

Our products are imported directly from Germany, without traveling through the USA, therefore NO tariffs!

Some exceptions  for certain imperial holders.