From "Optional" to "Standard"

Whenever I buy a new vehicle, I’m always surprised at the number of features I never expected that are now included. It seems hard to believe, but at one time, radios, air conditioning, and power windows were all options that you had to pay extra for. Today, it’s hard to imagine any manufacturer featuring crank-up windows as standard equipment and charging extra for the automatic ones.

Unfortunately, when it comes to turning centers, builders have not been as progressive. Even as parts have become more demanding of high tolerances and repeatability, the vast majority of lathes still come equipped with a 3-jaw chuck, which was originally patented in 1862!

The 3-jaw chuck is not without its uses. It works well for large numbers of parts that don’t require a high degree of precision. Depending on the chuck, the conventional clamping range extends from .5 inches to 7.5 inches and is usable with raw cast or forged parts. 

For parts requiring a higher degree of precision, tight concentricity, greater rigidity, and faster size changeover, the conventional collet chuck—also in use for over a century—is popular in many shops.

While both of these chucks can be serviceable within their limits on traditional medium- to low-value parts, modern applications, as well as a more competitive manufacturing environment, require a high-precision workholding system such as those offered by Hainbuch America.

 The precision workholding system offers all the capabilities of an ordinary 3-jaw or collet chuck, as well as the following significant advantages:

 ? OD to ID to 3-jaw clamping with modular adaptation in under two minutes. 

 ?. Vulcanized clamping heads that endure extreme or hostile environments with minimal wear.

 ? A hexagonal design for increased clamping force and resistance to contamination. 

 ? Adaptations that can be used in vertical and horizontal machining centers.

 ? Hainbuch workholding systems come in a wide variety of sizes, all of which are designed to allow faster changeover times.

 The modern turning center equipped with tool change systems, improved chip control, stronger ways, CNC controls, and a variety of other improvements is a far cry from yesterday’s engine lathe. Isn’t it time to do something about the more primitive workholding systems? You can. Even if the manufacturer doesn’t.

 Please feel free to contact me with any comments or questions.

 Check our website at www.hainbuchamerica.com for further information.