I am in the midst of unpacking a new TL-1 that was just delivered yesterday. I ordered the 8" 3 jaw chuck as an option. The Haas web site advertises BTC chucks with reversible jaws. When I unpacked things today I see they shipped a 190 mm Samchully chuck instead. Any info on the quality of the Samchully? I am not familiar with that brand at all. I am curious about the quality of that brand.

I think the chuck might be something the HFO supplies locally (not from the factory). I may be wrong on that. I see that you're in Seattle. Selway?

Just so you know what to expect with a BTC, you might want to read this thread:

http://cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73641

For the price of the optional chuck, I think you should at least get the features you paid for (8" with reversible jaws).

I personally wouldn't have bought the machine with a chuck or I would have specified what I wanted (brand & model). Is it a set-tru or just plain mount?

HFO = Selway yes. It is an A2-5 spindle. chuck is flat back with an A2-5 adapter plate. I did not know the chuck came from the HFO. I assumed the accessories were sourced by Haas.

So if I return the Samchully one to Selway what brand 8" 3 jaw A2-5 mount chuck should I get and where can I get it?

I don't know for sure if the factory puts the chuck on there or if the HFO does. If it's not used and you're not happy...they should make it right...or at least refund that portion of the sale.

No good suggestions that you'll want to hear (you're looking for a bargain, right?). Obviously buy the best chuck you can afford and nothing comes for free.

You couldn't go wrong with a Bison or Rohm chuck with reversible, two-piece jaws.

Those chucks are a direct copy of a Kitagawa. We use Kitagawa jaws and chuck t-nuts on ours.

I don't know for sure if the factory puts the chuck on there or if the HFO does. If it's not used and you're not happy...they should make it right...or at least refund that portion of the sale.

No good suggestions that you'll want to hear (you're looking for a bargain, right?). Obviously buy the best chuck you can afford and nothing comes for free.

You couldn't go wrong with a Bison or Rohm chuck with reversible, two-piece jaws.

Thanks I will look into those two brands. I agree I want to get a good chuck and I understand I have to pay for that ... I thought that was what I was doing when I ordered the Haas option for over $1,000.

To be honest I think that the one place the Haas business model is lacking pretty badly is that the face of the company to the customer is the HFO (not Haas) and the info I get from the HFO is quite variable.

Yeah, I hear ya' on Selway. That seems to be a theme on here (do a search for Selway--you'll see what I mean).

And you're absolutely right about the HFO vs the factory. I'm spoiled because I'm in the same HFO territory as the factory. That means that they have very close ties to Oxnard and things just happen. My HFO doesn't sell anything but Haas. It doesn't hurt having a few rockstar employees as well. :)

The problem for you is that even if you don't choose Haas, you actually have to choose something that isn't 'Selway.' I'm sure that Haas isn't the only brand they represent in your area.

I was just looking through the latest Enco catalog. It looks like the BTC chucks are on sale, as well as a few Bucks. You could get a 6-jaw Buck for $820. The BTC 6 jaw is only $775 and the 3-jaw is $579. All of these would require the appropriate backplate adapter but they're under $200.

It's in their current sale catalog, on the inside cover (page 2):
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRBC?PMCTLG=01

Any updates on why they substituted that chuck?

No update yet. I am still waiting for them to schedule my install visit. I was going to ask about the chuck then.

Meanwhile I was doing some web research on the Samchully brand last night and I ran across a web site that claims that Samchully is the new OEM supplier for all Haas lathes. Maybe Haas booted BTC? I read that link on BTC chucks that you referred me to and it sounds like quality control wasn't the best at BTC. We have a BTC chuck on the TL-3W that I bought in December last year and it is fine.


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http://www.usshoptools.com/indexpage%20images/HS_SERIES_3JAW_alt.gif (http://www.usshoptools.com/current_year/year_end_tax_specials/samchully_hs_series.pdf)
Samchully HS/HAS (http://www.usshoptools.com/current_year/year_end_tax_specials/samchully_hs_series.pdf) Series 3 Jaw chucks are now OEM equipment on HAAS Lathes - they are 100% inter- changeable with Kitagawa B200 Series Chucks.

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The one that came with my new lathe isn't a model HS/HAS like advertised above. It is model FTC-190. But it is a Samchully. Also I misspoke before, mine is a plain back with adapter plate not a set-thru.

Thanks again for the help. I appreciate it! I'll go look at Enco.

Get an SMW chuck. It will double the cost of your machine :D Seriously, I priced out a 12" SMW air chuck at $78,000 :D :D

Well, as you mentioned, what's the point to having that large bore on the lathe if you can't use it? I think my BTC 6-jaw is just shy of the bore diameter on the lathe (and could actually stand to be bored the rest of the way).

If you've got a TL-3 as well, you aren't too worried about it, but if I had to buy a collet closer over again, I'd go 16C instead of 5C (same reason--take advantage of the lathe's bore).

I have a 10 BTC on my TL-2. The damn thing has (had) something like a 2.800 bore in it. It now has a 3.010 bore in it. You can bore them out and at the point that I was at it was either buy a chuck with a bigger bore so I can utilize the 3.000 in my machine or attempt to bore the one I have. If I ruined the one I have then I was still in the same boat needing a new chuck so that is the route that I went. The results were good in this case.

Samchully is a Korean manufacturer that was manufacturing many of the Kitagawa's products under an OEM agreement until 2006. Samchully has manufactured premium quality workholding for over thirty years, but only started exporting in 2007.

Samchully is a preferred workholding supplier at Doosan, Hyundai-Kia, and as you know, Haas.

The Samchully chuck is a better made more expensive chuck than the BTC product from China. I think you will find it meets your needs very well.

You can get more product information at www.samchully.com.