Patent ID: 7429049

Claim:
A clamping apparatus, comprising: a chuck member having a clamping element adapted to clampingly fix a collet member thereto; a collet member adapted to be fixed to said chuck member and having first centering means for aligning the position of said collet member with regard to said chuck member; said chuck member having second centering means for aligning the position of said collet member with regard to said chuck member and cooperating with said first centering means of said collet member; said first centering means of said collet member including a plurality of first centering elements located at the rear side of said collet member facing said chuck member; said second centering means of said chuck member including a plurality of second centering elements corresponding to said plurality of first centering elements of said collet member regarding size and location and adapted to engage said first centering elements of said collet member upon fixing said collet member to said chuck member to align said collet member with regard to said chuck member at least in X- and Y-directions; and said collet member being provided with a peripheral shoulder incorporating said plurality of first centering elements, said peripheral shoulder providing a thrust surface adapted to be engaged by said clamping element of said chuck member to clampingly fix said collet member to said chuck member.