Bauron axial and radial CNC lathe live tool holders on a workshop bench beside a turning center
Driven Tool Holders

CNC Lathe Live Tooling: High-Torque Driven Tool Holders

Bauron manufactures high-precision CNC lathe live tooling solutions engineered to perform high-speed milling, cross-drilling, off-center tapping, and keyway slotting in a single turning setup.

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Technical overview

High-Rigidity Driven Tool Holders for Turning Centers

Integrating driven tooling onto CNC turning centers eliminates secondary milling setups, slashes overall part cycle times, and prevents re-clamping runout errors. At Bauron, our live tool holders are built with G2.5 dynamic balance rating (up to 12,000 RPM), heavy-duty preloaded bearing stacks, and bevel or planetary gear architectures. Whether executing face-milling passes, deep axial hole drilling, or side-grooving on tough alloy bar stock, our driven units deliver maximum torque transfer, low spindle vibration, and high positional accuracy.

Live tool configurations

Comprehensive Driven Tooling Portfolio

Radial 90-degree angle head live tool holder with ER collet chuck and precision-machined steel body

Radial Angle Head Live Tool Holder

Right-angle driven holder for side slotting, cross-drilling, and OD profiling operations on CNC lathes.

Axial Live Tool Holder Series

Straight inline driven holders aligned parallel to the main lathe spindle axis, ideal for face milling, end drilling, reaming, and axial thread tapping.

Radial Live Tool Holder Series (90° Angle)

Right-angle driven holders positioned perpendicular to the main spindle axis, optimized for side slotting, cross-drilling, keyway milling, and OD profiling.

Axial Tapping Holders (Torque-Limiting)

Adjustable torque clutch and axial compensation mechanism that helps prevent tap breakage during blind-hole thread cutting.

Radial Shell & Face Mill Arbors

Rigid 90° arbor holders designed for heavy face milling, chamfering, and wide slot cutting using indexable cutters.

High-Speed Ratio Units (1:2 Speed Increasers)

Gear-boosted axial holders delivering up to 12,000 RPM for micro-milling and fine carbide drilling in medical and mold components.

Turret compatibility

Precision Turret Interfaces & High-Pressure Coolant Integration

BMT Turret Interfaces (BMT45–BMT75)

Heavy-duty keywayed mounting bases offering high structural rigidity and exceptional torque transmission under heavy cutting loads.

VDI Turret Interfaces (VDI30–VDI50)

Precision serrated shank mounting systems allowing rapid tool changeovers and versatile angular alignment.

Output Noses & Collet Systems

ER collet chucks (ER25, ER32), face mill arbors, and modular quick-change adapter interfaces.

High-Pressure Through-Coolant

Internal coolant channels sealed to withstand 20 to 30 bar continuous pressure, with high-pressure options prepared for up to 70 bar operations.

Custom engineering

Tailored Tool Holders & Custom Engineering

When standard off-the-shelf driven units cannot clear tight machine enclosure boundaries or fulfill specialized spindle offset requirements, Bauron provides custom engineering services. Our technical team designs custom driven tool holders tailored to your specific machine model:

High-speed axial live tool holder with black anodized body, precision bearing stack, and blue sealing rings

High-Speed Axial Driven Unit

Gear-boosted axial holder delivering high RPM for micro-milling and fine carbide drilling operations.

Custom Gear Ratios

1:1 direct drive, 1:2 speed multipliers, or 2:1 high-torque reducers matched to your operation.

Slim-Body Clearance Profiles

Extended-reach nose housings and slim body profiles for tight multi-turret lathes.

Specialized Output Noses

Capto, HSK, and custom arbor diameters to match your existing tooling system.

Custom Mounting Interfaces

Built directly from your machine CAD models or turret blueprints.

Technical questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main operational difference between an axial live tool holder and a radial live tool holder?

An axial live tool holder aligns its cutting tool parallel to the lathe spindle centerline to perform face drilling, tapping, and end milling. A radial live tool holder positions the tool at a 90-degree right angle to the spindle centerline to execute side milling, cross-drilling, and OD keyway cutting.

What balance rating do Bauron live tool holders maintain?

Standard Bauron live tool holders are dynamically balanced to G2.5 at 6,000 RPM, while high-speed axial models are balanced to G2.5 at 10,000 to 12,000 RPM to minimize spindle vibration and extend bearing life.

Can through-coolant be used with Bauron driven tool holders?

Yes. Our driven holders feature internal coolant channels equipped with Viton and NBR labyrinth seals, designed for standard 20 to 30 bar coolant pressure and capable of handling high-pressure setups up to 70 bar.

How do I verify if a live tool holder is compatible with my CNC lathe turret?

Compatibility depends on your machine's turret type (BMT or VDI), base size (e.g., BMT55 or VDI40), drive tang type, and bolt circle pattern. You can send your machine model and turret specifications to Bauron for a free compatibility review.

Application support

Upgrade Your CNC Turning Center Productivity

Boost your lathe output with precision-engineered CNC lathe live tooling. Contact Bauron today to consult with an application engineer, verify turret compatibility, or request a custom quote.

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Design and engineering support

From application details to a production-ready tool.

Bauron works with manufacturers to review tool geometry, substrate, coating, reach, machine conditions, and production requirements for standard and custom CNC tooling.

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