[CadRhino]

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

[kstrauss]

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.

[CadRhino]

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

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.

t

[kstrauss]

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!

[KSky]

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."

[popspipes]

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 quite agree!

[CadRhino]

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

I quite agree!

[CadRhino]

By the way, what are some decent priced quality 6" 3-jaw chucks folks recommend?
Thanks

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

[SCzEngrgGroup]

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.

[CadRhino]

I might go this direction.
Thanks for the input.
How did you locate the mounting holes in back of your chuck(S)
Thanks

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.

[SCzEngrgGroup]

I might go this direction.
Thanks for the input.
How did you locate the mounting holes in back of your chuck(S)
Thanks

Just measured... Pay attention to where the the holes for the chuck key end up. Mine all point to the front, and I made an extended key wrench to make it easier to access them.

Regards,
Ray L.

[CadRhino]

Thanks
What brand chucks did you use?

Just measured... Pay attention to where the the holes for the chuck key end up. Mine all point to the front, and I made an extended key wrench to make it easier to access them.

Regards,
Ray L.

[AUSTINMACHINING]

Thanks
What brand chucks did you use?

I hAve a similar setup to Ray. I used a 1" thick square of Mic-6 with 6" Bison chuck. I usually drop it in the vise, but it can be bolted directly to the table. I put broken 1/2" end mill with the back end facing up to locate the center of the chuck/wcs.

[SCzEngrgGroup]

Thanks
What brand chucks did you use?

I bought all of mine from cdcotools.com.

Regards,
Ray L.

[C*H*U*D]

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.

[rowbare]

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

[CadRhino]

Thanks for the insight
Bison are $500+

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

[MFchief]

At the risk of messing up a good thing, I've had good luck finding MIC6 on ebay for almost the same prices as 6061. I believe a lot of the folks selling drops, just think it's " another chunk of aluminum".

Terry

[AUSTINMACHINING]

At the risk of messing up a good thing, I've had good luck finding MIC6 on ebay for almost the same prices as 6061. I believe a lot of the folks selling drops, just think it's " another chunk of aluminum".

Terry

Yep, I've got some smokin deals on ebay. One guy was selling guy was selling 12" round 3/8" thick blanks for 1/4 the typical cost. They had a few perimeter holes from another process, so actual usable diameter was 11.5", bUT they were perfect for my application. Our local metal distributor also has an area they call "the drop zone" with a ton of cut plate for various type of aluminium. They keep the drops for atime before sending to recycle, so great deals to be had if you don't mind digging a little.

[mountaindew]

Are you wanting to do 1 operation at a time at 3 different offsets? Or a group of operations at each offset?
I have found no easy way to do it without editing and combining programs.

The example shown below I changed a template I have that uses 3 5c collet holders. I just change the fixtures to chucks.
Its setup for different part at each location. Not easy to use because stock definition is hard to get set right.

Attachment 370800

I bet people that use 2 vise fixtures all the time could explain a better way to cam and combine code for 2 locations. I know this is not the best way