Workholding apparatus
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorThomas A. Borysiak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chuck assembly includes a chuck base configured to interface with a spindle of a machine tool, a cartridge including a receiving opening for receiving a workpiece to be worked using the machine tool, and clamping jaws disposed proximate to a working end of the chuck base to hold the cartridge therebetween. The cartridge further comprises a multi-axis clamping and locating assembly that simultaneously positions the workpiece and clamps the workpiece responsive to insertion of the workpiece into the receiving opening such that at least a portion of the workpiece that is to be worked via the machine tool is aligned with an axis of rotation of the chuck assembly.
Claims20
A chuck assembly comprising:
- a chuck base configured to interface with a spindle of a machine tool;
- a cartridge including a receiving opening for receiving a workpiece to be worked using the machine tool;
- and
- clamping jaws disposed proximate to a working end of the chuck base to hold the cartridge therebetween,
- wherein the cartridge further comprises a multi-axis clamping and locating assembly that simultaneously positions the workpiece and clamps the workpiece responsive to insertion of the workpiece into the receiving opening such that at least a portion of the workpiece that is to be worked via the machine tool is aligned with an axis of rotation of the chuck assembly.
A cartridge for a chuck assembly configured to interface with a spindle of a machine tool, the cartridge comprising:
- a receiving opening for receiving a workpiece to be worked using the machine tool;
- and
- a multi-axis clamping and locating assembly that simultaneously positions the workpiece and clamps the workpiece responsive to insertion of the workpiece into the receiving opening such that at least a portion of the workpiece that is to be worked via the machine tool is aligned with an axis of rotation of the chuck assembly.
A chuck assembly comprising:
- a chuck base configured to interface with a spindle of a machine tool;
- a mounting pad disposed on the chuck base to receive a selected one of a plurality of interchangeable cartridges;
- a counterweight disposed at the mounting pad proximate to the selected one of the plurality of interchangeable cartridges to balance the chuck assembly;
- and
- clamping jaws disposed proximate to a working end of the chuck base to hold the selected one of the plurality of interchangeable cartridges therebetween,
- wherein the selected one of the plurality of interchangeable cartridges includes a receiving opening dimensioned for receiving a workpiece to be worked using the machine tool, and wherein each different one of the plurality of interchangeable cartridges has a corresponding differently dimensioned receiving opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.