While there is little doubt that the global COVID pandemic has caused almost ubiquitous business disruptions, the ‘downtime’ has also presented productivity and efficiency enhancing ancillary specialist, Leader Chuck International, with the opportunity to increase its range of static and rotary self-contained two-, three- and four-jaw power chucks. The new additions will be on the company’s stand at MACH. 

The comprehensive range of pneumatic and hydraulically activated self-contained chucks has been extended beyond the previous 125mm diameter limit to cover most popular sizes and fittings. For longevity and accuracy both the static and rotary ranges the chuck bodies are case hardened to 62 HRc and precision ground; and feature internal safety valves to prevent any loss of pressure and gripping force.

Providing an ideal upgrade for manual lathes the front mounted pneumatically operated rotary power chucks are now sized at 135-32, 170-39, 215-52, 260-92 and 315-115mm, comprising diameter and internal bore respectively. Maximum gripping force at 6 bar ranges from 26 to 91kN with jaw strokes of between 3 and 5mm per jaw. Maximum operational speed for the smallest three-jaw chuck is 4,850rpm dropping to 2,750rpm for the largest.

Managing director of Leader Chuck International, Mark Jones, explains: “Power chucks make it easier and quicker to set up a manual lathe, making them more efficient to load and unload. While the self-contained design of the chuck alleviates the need for a draw-tube to operate the jaws so the maximum turning capacity of the machine tool is maintained.”      

For static workholding applications, typically billet raw material, forged or cast parts for milling or multi axis machining, the two-, three-, and four-jaw chucks are available pneumatically or hydraulically actuated. The air-operated PE models and hydraulic HE variants are available in the same diameters as the rotary versions but come with an optional through hole also sized to match.

Jaw stroke for the PE and HE range is equivalent to the rotary version of the chucks, which for the hydraulic range the gripping force starts at 41.5kN for the 135mm diameter chuck and extends to 86kN for the largest 315mm diameter version.   

“Both ranges of the static chucks offer ideal efficiency enhancing replacements for the manual vices typically found in workshops loaded on the tables of milling machines and machining centres,” Mr Jones adds. “Part-to-part change overs become much quicker using a power chuck and the workpiece gripping forces available provide peace of mind for roughing or finishing operations.”

He concludes: “We offer an extensive range of hardened jaws for such applications and a self-contained foot operated electro-pneumatic switch to make loading and unloading straightforward.” 

An extensive stock of the extended chuck ranges is available for quick delivery from Leader Chuck International along with expert technical pre- and post-sales advice.

Leader Chuck International www.leaderchuck.com Hall 18, Stand 18

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