What are the power chucks for machine tools? How is it used?

　Today let’s talk about machine tool power chucks.

　　A chuck is a mechanical device used to clamp workpieces on machine tools. A machine tool attachment that uses the radial movement of the movable jaws evenly distributed on the chuck body to clamp and position the workpiece. The chuck generally consists of three parts: the chuck body, the movable jaw and the jaw driving mechanism. The minimum diameter of the chuck body is 65 mm and the maximum is 1500 mm. There is a through hole in the center to facilitate the passage of workpieces or bar materials; the back has a cylindrical or short conical structure and is connected to the end of the machine tool spindle directly or through a flange.

　　lathe chuck

　　chuck

　　1. Classification

　　Common chuck power sources include hydraulic and pneumatic (hydraulic lathe chucks are more common, and our company specializes in the production of pneumatic chucks and hydraulic power chucks)

　　Hydraulic power diagram

　　1) The hydraulic power chuck consists of a chuck, a rotary cylinder, a directional valve, and a fuel tank.

　　The chuck is installed on the front of the lathe spindle, the rotary cylinder is installed on the rear, and the middle is connected by a tie rod.

　　The oil pump provides pressure oil through the directional valve to push the piston in the cylinder to move. The pull rod transmits the force to the chuck, causing the wedge and claw to move.

　　Pneumatic power indication

　　2) The pneumatic chuck consists of a chuck, a rotary cylinder, a directional valve, a pneumatic control component, a speed regulating valve, a silencer, etc.

　　The compressed air flowing through the pneumatic control component enters the cylinder and pushes the piston to move. The pull rod transmits the force to the chuck, causing the wedge and claw to move.

　　3) Mechanical chuck: This is usually found on old-fashioned ordinary cars.

　　4) Electric chuck: It consists of the clamping functional unit of the electric chuck device, the power functional unit of the electric chuck device, the electromagnetic friction clutch assembly, the chuck body shell and the electromagnetic brake assembly.

　　When the electromagnetic brake assembly is energized, the clamping functional unit of the electric chuck device is connected to the bedside box as a whole and does not rotate; when the electromagnetic friction clutch assembly is energized, the power functional unit of the electric chuck device transmits the rotational motion to the jaws to clamp or loosen the workpiece. During the machining process, only the clamping functional unit of the electric chuck device rotates with the spindle, while the power functional unit of the electric chuck device does not rotate with the spindle.

　　2. Common chucks

　　1) Lever type hollow 2-jaw or 3-jaw chuck

　　One chuck can use 2 or 3 claws at the same time to process round, profiled or special-shaped materials.

　　Chuck installation method: Use the connecting flange to over-connect.

　　2) Lever-type medium solid 2-claw 4-claw power chuck

　　It is suitable for processing square and special-shaped parts. It has strong clamping force and can be used for strong cutting.

　　Chuck installation method: trial connection flange connection

　　3) Universal ball lock floating chuck (VBL-various ball lock power chuck)

　　It is suitable for processing cast and forged parts. The parts are clamped and pulled back, and can clamp a 10° cone. The claws can freely swing 5° left and right and have strong clamping force. (There is also a special chuck with center compensation)

　　Chuck connection method: There are two types according to ASA standards or JIS standards, flange connection or direct short taper connection with the spindle.

　　Advantages: Pull back to tighten; never loosen; easy to clamp tapered parts; claws can automatically swing 5°; can be used for high-speed rotation; can clamp short outer cone parts; has a special dust protection design; can clamp non-circular parts; no clamping force loss, the clamping force is 3 times the input force; clamped parts can automatically center; suitable for inner and outer diameter processing of forged or cast parts, with good centering ability; can also be designed as a center-based 2-claw compensation chuck.