You can argue about who the hardest working person is in your shop, but no one disagrees that the standard 3-jaw chuck works as hard as any CNC machine component. It’s the primary workholding device that helps maintain accuracy and spindle speed.
Although it seems like a simple mechanism it actually contains a number of moving parts that require adequate lubrication at all times. A piston within a hydraulic actuator connected to the chuck by a drawtube typically enables the chuck jaws to open and close. The back-and-forth motion of the piston drives a plunger inside the chuck body to open and close the jaws, so it grips the work piece with appropriate force.
If these moving parts aren’t properly lubricated, the resulting friction will create wear points on the chuck. This can result in out-of-tolerance parts, scrap and rework. Not to mention the cost to replace a badly worn or damaged chuck. Fortunately there are some simple steps you can take to see that this doesn’t happen to yours.
Performing these simple actions will keep your chucks operating reliably throughout their lives, saving you considerable time and money. Your Torrance Haas Factory Outlet has more productivity and cost-saving ideas for your CNC shop. Give them a call: (310) 381-0750, email: jphillips@haasfactoryoutlet.com, or visit www.haasfactoryoutlet.com.