Collets Vs Jaw Chucks. Collets and chucks are two common types of mechanism used to hold spindle tooling or workpieces. Technically speaking, a collet is a type of chuck, but the two terms are usually used exclusively. A 'chuck' usually refers to any type of work holder which is not a collet.

Collets are used to hold a tool in a central position as it rotates. As the tool is inserted into the collet, the device expands and provides uniform pressure that holds the tool in place. However, if the collet stretches too far, it cannot secure the instrument properly and may lose shape.

Collets have a life span of 400-600 hours, which roughly translates to between two and three months with the collet being used eight hours a day. When inspecting your collet, metallic damage, such as bell mouthing or burrs, should be checked with every tool change.

The "ER" name came from an existing "E" collet (which were a letter series of names) which Rego-Fix modified and appended "R" for "Rego-Fix". The series number is the opening diameter of the tapered receptacle, in millimetres.