Dead length collect chuck assembly

A dead length collet chuck assembly for actuating a collet comprising a threaded rear end portion and a compressible, split forward end portion having a flared exterior surface and defining a plurality of jaws for holding a workpiece, the assembly having a longitudinal, central axis and comprising:

• a chuck body having a forward end portion having a first bore coaxial of the central axis, a rear end portion having a second bore coaxial of the central axial, said chuck body carrying means for engaging the threaded rear end portion of the collet and for restraining the collet against axial movement relative to the chuck body;
• a collet closing sleeve slidably disposed within the first bore of the chuck body and axially displaceable relative to the chuck body, the closing sleeve having forward and rear end portions, an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface of the sleeve at the forward end portion thereof being flared to engage and mate with the flared exterior surface of the forward end portion of the collet, axial displacement of the closing sleeve relative to the chuck body in one direction compressing the jaws of the collet and axial displacement of the closing sleeve in the other direction releasing the jaws;
• and
• a collet actuator slidably disposed within the second bore of the chuck body, the actuator being adapted to be coupled to an actuator driver for axially displacing the actuator relative to the chuck body, the actuator including a plurality of forwardly extending fingers having forward ends, the forward ends of the actuator fingers and the rear portion of the closing sleeve being configured to interlock, axial displacement of the actuator causing a substantially corresponding axial displacement of the closing sleeve whereby the jaws of the collet are compressed or released.