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Thread: Aluminium soft jaws for the four-jaw chuck

  1. #1
    Supporting Member thehomeengineer's Avatar
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    Aluminium soft jaws for the four-jaw chuck

    Hi All
    I made some soft jaws today out of some aluminium sheet. The photos below show the method I used. What I hate about setting a four-jaw chuck is the damage the hard jaws can do to the component. Also when using packing between the job and jaws this tends to fall out when adjusting the job to run concentric.
    These soft jaws only took ten minutes to make (please no comments like “it looks like it” lol) It took me longer to find the material than to make them and to write this post.
    As you can see these are retained around the jaws so no more frustrating time looking for packing in the bottom of the swarf tray.

    Setting the four-jaw chuck up to use as a press tool the piece of stock is there purely to flatten the bottom of the soft jaw
    Aluminium soft jaws for the four-jaw chuck-img_0611.jpg
    Gang cutting all four pieces of aluminium, the slit will form the locking tabs
    Aluminium soft jaws for the four-jaw chuck-img_0619.jpg
    Setting the aluminium central to the jaw to ensure they bend evenly
    Aluminium soft jaws for the four-jaw chuck-img_0612.jpg
    Pressing the sheet with the chuck jaw down tightly on to the stock
    Aluminium soft jaws for the four-jaw chuck-img_0613.jpg

    Aluminium soft jaws for the four-jaw chuck-img_0614.jpg
    Knocking the sheet to fit tightly to the Jaws.
    Aluminium soft jaws for the four-jaw chuck-img_0616.jpg
    Bending the locking tabs down
    Aluminium soft jaws for the four-jaw chuck-img_0617.jpg

    Aluminium soft jaws for the four-jaw chuck-img_0621.jpg
    Finished soft jaws.
    Aluminium soft jaws for the four-jaw chuck-img_0622.jpgAluminium soft jaws for the four-jaw chuck-img_0623.jpg

    Hope this will make your life easier when you don’t want horrible jaw marks all over your work piece
    The Home Engineer

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  2. The Following 28 Users Say Thank You to thehomeengineer For This Useful Post:

    aphilipmarcou (Feb 1, 2018), benkeller3 (Jan 31, 2018), Bobinwa (Jun 17, 2018), Canyonman44 (Mar 12, 2020), Captainleeward (Jan 29, 2018), celsoari (Feb 17, 2018), Doc (Jan 25, 2023), high-side (Mar 12, 2020), HobieDave (Mar 13, 2020), HUMARIA (Mar 13, 2020), jjr2001 (Jan 29, 2018), Jon (Jan 29, 2018), LMMasterMariner (Jan 29, 2018), melbakid (Mar 13, 2020), Moby Duck (Jan 29, 2018), mudnducs (Jan 29, 2018), NortonDommi (Jun 1, 2018), Paul Jones (Jan 28, 2018), PJs (Jan 30, 2018), Ralphxyz (Apr 14, 2021), Rangi (Mar 13, 2020), RetiredFAE (Jan 6, 2023), rossbotics (Jan 30, 2018), Scrounga (Mar 12, 2020), Seedtick (Jan 29, 2018), Toolmaker51 (Jun 1, 2018), Tule (Feb 18, 2018), yvonf (Jan 7, 2023)

  3. #2
    Supporting Member Paul Jones's Avatar
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    Thank you for the posting thehomeengineer,

    I like your series of photos. easy to understand to method.

    I agree that using any "soft" jaw coverings made from aluminum, copper or yet another soft metal material in three, four or six jaw is a great way to protect your work and very important for secondary and beyond operations when preserving surface finish is a important.

    Your method of bending-over the "upper tabs" to hold the jaw covers in place makes using these covers so much easier than just using just flattened copper tubing for jaw covering protections.

    Regards,

    Paul

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  4. The Following User Says Thank You to Paul Jones For This Useful Post:

    thehomeengineer (Jan 29, 2018)

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    Supporting Member LMMasterMariner's Avatar
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    Excellent idea. Thanks for sharing. It's on my 'to do list' now.

    Best regards
    LMMasterMariner

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    thehomeengineer (Mar 23, 2018)

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    Supporting Member jjr2001's Avatar
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    Oh I really like that one. Great photo layout. I have been needing to make some for a while
    and will get to it soon. Great method.

    Cheers, JR

  8. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to jjr2001 For This Useful Post:

    Captainleeward (Jan 29, 2018), Paul Jones (Jan 29, 2018), thehomeengineer (Mar 23, 2018)

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    Supporting Member Captainleeward's Avatar
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    I like I like must have some... :O)

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    thehomeengineer (Mar 23, 2018)

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    Thanks thehomeengineer! We've added your Chuck Soft Jaws to our Workholding category,
    as well as to your builder page: thehomeengineer's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:




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    asif96420 (Feb 15, 2018)

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    Supporting Member Ralphxyz's Avatar
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    Wow, so simple but so good, gotahavesome.

    Thanks for posting.

    Ralph

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    thehomeengineer (Mar 23, 2018)

  15. #8

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    What type of aluminum did you use. It seems every time I try something like this I get stress cracks. I can never remember which type is malleable.

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    Supporting Member thehomeengineer's Avatar
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    Fully annealed aluminium. If the aluminium is hard run hand soap over the material and heat until the soap goes black and this will be the temperature for annealing aluminium and allow to cool naturally. The hard aluminium will be soft and workable. This is the method I use and it works but I am sure there are other methods for annealing aluminium.
    hope this helps
    the home engineer

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    Thanks for the quick reply.

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