Collet chuck transformed into mandrel or jaw unit

An adaptive jaw system that quickly quickly and cost-effectively transforms a collet chuck into a mandrel and jaw chucking system will be shown at the forthcoming UK MACH 2004 machine tool show.

With a comprehensive display of lathe chuck as well as workholding solutions for machining centres, milling machines and grinders, award-winning workholding specialist Leader Chuck Systems is using MACH 2004 as the launch pad for three exciting new products to reinforce its market-leading position.

The new Mando Adapt and Jaw Adapt both bring unrivalled levels of flexibility to lathe workholding by quickly and cost-effectively transforming a collet chuck into a mandrel and jaw chucking system.

The just-announced MultiChuck MMYB through-bore concentric clamping system permits unobstructed on-centre, through-component drilling, reaming and tapping operations to be performed.

Mando Adapt and Jaw Adapt transform a standard Hainbuch collet chuck into a mandrel for internal workpiece gripping (Mando Adapt), or into a jaw chuck (Jaw Adapt) that enables larger workpieces - up to almost double the diameter - to be held securely by the same chuck body.

Compared with conventional separate chuck set-ups for multi-turning tasks, Mando Adapt and Jaw Adapt effectively provide users with a three-in-one lathe workholding system to cover all eventualities at relatively lower cost, as well as vastly reduced changeover times.

Designed exclusively for use with the ultra-accurate Hainbuch collet chuck, both systems maintain the high clamping accuracy for which the Hainbuch system is renowned - guaranteed within five microns TIR.

Both products are easy and quick to implement; after removing the chuck's collet, both Mando Adapt and Jaw Adapt accurately locate via a central location/locking screw and tapered ring mechanism.

To revert to normal collet operation, the screw is simply released and the collet re-inserted ready for action.

The chuck body remains untouched and in the machine at all times, which contributes greatly to the systems' high concentricity.

Mando Adapt is currently available for 65mm Hainbuch Combi Pull Back chucks, giving a mandrel clamping range of 20mm to 100mm diameter.

Soft mandrels can also be supplied, which users can machine to suit their specific requirements.

As its name suggests, Jaw Adapt converts a collet chuck into a jaw chuck, enabling a 65 mm chuck, for example, to accommodate workpiece diameters of up to 120 mm.

Following removal of the standard Hainbuch collet, the chuck collet acts as three master jaws, with serrations aiding location accuracy and stroke adjustment of Jaw Adapt, location is again via the central screw.

Jaw Adapt is available for 42mm, 52mm and 65mm Hainbuch Combi Pull Back collet chucks, and standard Jaw Adapt soft jaws can be bored out by users.

The third new product, MultiChuck MMYB has been derived from the MultiChuck MMY concentric clamping system, which was the Best Workholding Product at the International Machine Tool Industry Awards.

By simply adding a through-hole to MultiChuck MMY, MultiChuck MMYB is ideally suited to on-centre through-machining operations, thus permitting unobstructed machining.

Designed for both the internal and external gripping of workpieces on vertical and horizontal machining centres, milling machines and grinders, MultiChuck MMYB brings a host of advantages to the self-centring of round parts - not least rapid clamping and short set-up times.

MultiChuck MMYB's simple top face operation enables more chucks, and therefore workpieces, to be 'banked' closely together - which is not the case with the traditional side face lock/unlock strategy.

Available with two or three jaws, MultiChuck MMYB combines fast jaw travel with high gripping force.

Jaw strokes are 3mm, 3mm, 4mm and 5mm across the four variants - chuck types 80, 100, 125 and 150 that have base dimensions of 80mm by 80mm, 100mm by 100mm, 125mm by 125mm and 150mm by 150mm, respectively.

Through holes of 12mm, 20mm, 25mm and 35mm diameter are available across the range, to suit users' requirements.

In addition, Leader Chuck Systems' display will highlight other examples from the company's range of workholding solutions for machining centres, milling machines and grinders - the MultiVice MMX inline vice system and the MMCC inline multi-jaw vice system, as well as the MMXZ and MMCZ inline modular vice strips.

Also on the stand will be the cost-competitive yet highly accurate Lexon collet chuck from the company's Hainbuch range of high-accuracy collet chucks.

Designed as an economical replacement for multi-bore and other styles of collet chucks in bar-fed turning applications, having radial serration grooves, Lexon is not only a better alternative to competing multi-bore and other collet systems in terms of gripping accuracy and rigidity, but it is also available ex-stock and at an unbeatable price.

Lexon boasts 30 per cent more gripping power than multi-bore systems, so the resulting faster machining speeds and feeds reduced cycle times, and its extra rigidity generates increased tool life and improved surface finishes compared with other bar-fed lathe chucks.

Available in two chuck sizes capable of accommodating maximum bar diameters of 52mm and 65mm and A5, A6 and A8 spindle noses, Lexon Type 52 can be provided with collet clamping heads 4 mm to 52 mm diameter and are also available with square and hexagon bores.

Type 65 heads will handle round bar of 5mm to 65mm, and are also available for square and hexagon bar.

A front located component stop can be provided.

Leader Chuck Systems also offers a comprehensive portfolio of own-brand standard CNC power chucks (165mm to 315mm diameter) and self-contained compact static and rotating air chucks (80mm to 315mm) as well as a wide range of chucks from Gamet, Hewa, MicroCentric and Zweifel, for which it also holds the exclusive UK agency rights.

Examples from these ranges will be on show, too.

MACH 2004 - 19-23 April - NEC Birmingham, UK, Hall: 5 Stand: 5305.

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