Hydraulic chuck with independently moveable jaws

A rotatable chuck assembly incorporated into a lathe comprising:

• a plurality of independent hydraulically controlled jaws distributed about a central axis, each jaw comprising a hydraulic actuator having a first hydraulic chamber and a second hydraulic chamber disposed within the chuck assembly, and each jaw comprising first and second fluid ports that channel hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic chamber and the second hydraulic chamber, respectively, to individually extend and retract each jaw;
• at least one hydraulic fluid source disposed within the chuck assembly;
• an electronic controller module disposed within the chuck assembly and in communication with the fluid source;
• and at least one sensor in communication with the controller module;
• wherein the controller module is adapted to adjust hydraulic fluid pressure in either of the chambers;
• the lathe further comprises a wireless communication apparatus in electrical communication with the controller module of the rotatable chuck assembly and in wireless communication with a control panel of the lathe;
• wherein the hydraulic pressure on the independent jaws may be adjusted without ceasing rotation of the chuck assembly.