When using a chuck on the table I secure it with a pair of strap clamps, step blocks and studs. Perhaps not elegant looking but it costs nothing since it uses stuff that I already have.
I have a Tormach 8" and th axis with both a 3 & 4-jaw chuck with base plate.
I use my 3-jaw all the time on my 4th axis.
I want to ge a new 3-jaw to mount on my table to Machine round parts.
I want to keep my current 3-jaw on my 4th axis.
Any suggestions on what chuck to get and how to mount it?
I like the base plates on the Tormach 4-axis 3-Jaws but they cost $350.
Also, dose anyone know if she could re-use my 4- jaw Tormach base plate with a 3-jaw?
I like clamping the chuck down to the table using the wider base plate.
Thanks
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When using a chuck on the table I secure it with a pair of strap clamps, step blocks and studs. Perhaps not elegant looking but it costs nothing since it uses stuff that I already have.
Thanks for the reply
I have used that quick and dirty method but I am going to be machining close se to the face and fear the cosmos will get in the way.
I like the extended base plate on the tormach but it is $350.
Maybe I need to just by a 3-jaw and machine a base plate with countersunk screws on the bottom of base plate. Then I could lock it down with t-nuts.
Anyone done this?
I will try to reuse my tormach 4-jaw base plate first if I can.
Thanks
t
Just face the sides in a small piece of aluminum plate and drill/mill the necessary holes. Secure it to the table with four counterbored SHCS and T-nuts. Most chuck manufacturers provide info on the spacing of the mounting holes. You don't need anything fancy or even accurately made. A simple base certainly isn't worth $350!
I have a set of custom soft jaws that provide a little more clearance. I have a self centering 6 jaw chuck that I use all the time and just leave it mounted alongside the vice. I have the jaws modeled in Fusion 360 if you want a copy.
I know some of you always say "and yes, my Tormach is always this clean, well, yes my Tormach is always this full of chips as I use it all the time."
I have two 3-jaw chuck fixtures - one with a single chuck, another with 4 chucks. They are among my most-used generic fixtures. Both are just a chunk of 6061 1"x 6" of appropriate length The chucks are bolted to the plates from the bottom, as most small chucks have 3 mounting holes drilled and tapped on their back sides. The plates are machined so the front and left edges are a known distance from the center of the first chuck (3" in both cases), so I can mount the plate to the table, or in a vise, set the fixture offset to the left-front-top corner of the fixture, and go to work.
Regards,
Ray L.
How big is the round stock you plan to machine? I have a 3 jaw chuck but rarely use it since most of what I do is 1" or less, and a 5C collet holder is quicker and easier to toss into my vise. It also gives me the option to hold the stock horizontal which is tough to do with my 3 jaw chuck.
Just a thought.
The stock i mill is 2" to 6"
Here is one I found;
http://m.ebay.com/itm/The-adapter-and-3-jaw-chuck-for-mounting-on-a-8-rotary-table-/172140866369?hash=item2814652b41%3Am%3AmXxmXpQ-pqycp7xQ87adntg&_trkparms=pageci%253Ad9d4b683-71a8-11e7-ae56-74dbd180dc38%257Cparentrq%253A7cb11bb315d0aa66e7d6 c2e2ffffdab2%257Ciid%253A2
You aren't going to be spinning this chuck at 3000 rpm so pretty much anything will work. I would suggest something with bolt on jaws so you can make soft jaws if you need them. You can get them on eBay from US vendors for under $100... Granted at that price you aren't getting a Pratt-Burnerd or a Bison but it will be perfectly adequate for the job.
bob