How Adaptive Jaws Works

These Adaptive Jaws are designed to replace conventional soft jaws in sub-spindle / back-spindle applications on CNC Lathe and Mill turn machines. Lathe chuck jaws on sub spindle need to be modified when unconventional or irregular (for lathes equipped with 3 jaw Sub chuck ) shapes have to be clamped.

CNC Lathe and Mill Turn chuck soft jaws / Adaptive Jaws for any 2D shape with quick and easy setup .

Quicker setups = Less down time
Less down time = More machine time
More machine time = More money and Less stress on Machinists
Less stress on Machinists = Better work mood and better efficiency

After finishing the machining on side I. /Main side, set both side in the position where the transfer will occur. Mainly origin /home position of both “C” axis.
Clamp a steel rod (that can be retrieved with the help of a magnet later) in the chuck. The size of this rod is to stop the Adaptive Jaws in the middle of their stroke and under the size of the part you wish to clamp with the Adaptive Jaws.
Lock both spindle and / or apply the brakes to making sure they will not move during the setup.
Dive up the second / sub spindle over the machined part or the area needs to be clamped so the face of the adaptive jaws are in the position where you wish the clamping to occur.
Gently push the (pre-set) Jaw teeth onto the part outside contour. Make sure that all teeth that you want to clamp with make contact with the contour. A small torx-key can be used to push the teeth individually.
Lock the teeth into position by tightening the bolts supplied with the set .
Make sure there are no tooth sticking out of the top face of jaws.
To ensure accuracy the teeth must not exceed 1.5 times of their thickness when they sticking out compared to each other as they follow the parts contour. Otherwise,deflection of the teeth will cause inaccuracy and unbalanced part during takeover from the main spindle.
After tightening up all 6 bolts (2 of each jaw), drive the second spindle with the Adaptive Jaws back to it’s Origin / Home position and remove the small bar with a magnet.

All of these actions are simple and can be done very quick by an experienced Machinist.

You can download the Users Manual by clicking here.

We were also testing these Adaptive Jaws with apprentices.

After a good understanding of setting the machines with these we gave them the freedom of choice to set the machines in the way of their preference. Their choice was these new type of Adaptive Jaws because of the simple fact of time saving and much less hassle during the setup. It is forgiving for setup mistake as you can just reset the desired clamping points described earlier and you are good to go without spending money and time on another set of old style soft jaws.