Re: CNC chucks for lathes

> > 1) Are there cnc controlled chucks out there for less than the
> cost of a
> > first born child?
>
> No. There are three components to power chuck cost:
>
> 1) Design $ Plenty of designs around to copy using air or
> hydraulics
> 2) Production $$ Many close fitting, sliding fits, usually hand
> lapped
> 3) Liability $$$
>
>
> > 2) Don't you have to support the other end sticking out of the
> > tailstock? Or do you just keep it short?
>
> You absolutely must support the bar end , and preferably have a
> tubing enclosure all along the extended length. Many CNC machines
> with power chucks have a CNC controlled "Bar Feeder". This can be
> an air or hydraulic pusher system that pushes the bar against a CNC
> positioned stop if front of the opened chuck. One that I admired
> used steel cable attached to a counterweight with a pulley system.
> Fred Smith - IMService
> http://www.cadcamcadcam.com/hobby

Good points.

If I had to make such a unit, I would look at collet chucks. many
lathes can handle collet chucks and collet chucks can be lever operated.

That means the possibility of using a large pnuematic cylinder to
operate it.

And, all you would need is to put the cross slide as an interference
stop and then push/pull the part.

The tube for the stock is common and it really abuses the OD of the stock.

I would expect someone has already done such a modification.

Dave