Collet Chuck Essentials

 

Occasionally in this space I like to call out past articles from Production Machining that have been particularly popular. “Understanding CNC Collet Chucks” has been one of the most read articles in our archives during the past several years and continues to get substantial traffic today.

This article, by Tom Sheridan, vice president of marketing at Royal Products, first reviews the basic operation of the standard three-jaw power chuck. The author then goes on to detail specific applications where CNC collet chucks may be a better workholding option and what benefits they can bring. He then explains different collet chuck designs.

When considering the purchase of a CNC lathe or turning center, it is important to ensure that the workholding system is matched to both the machine’s capabilities and the type of work that it will be doing. Knowing the different workholding options and how they best fit into the process is an important step towards better production.