An air chuck uses air pushing against springs to open the jaws. It is very limited in what it can hold size wise and is only good for round stock. Also has no through hole. It came with a CNC lathe I bought.
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Chuck key sizes poll
- Thread starter Janger
- Start date
An air chuck uses air pushing against springs to open the jaws. It is very limited in what it can hold size wise and is only good for round stock. Also has no through hole. It came with a CNC lathe I bought.
Another comment about the survey @Janger. I know the survey tools don't allow it, but what the survey misses is both the frequency of use for each size as well as the number of chucks of that size for each user.
The fact that I have 9, 10, 11, and 3/8, totally misses the fact that I use my two 10mm chucks more than the others by a wide margin.
It might be good to ask the same question a different way. "What size do you use most?" I think that would size up the market a bit better for @a smile.
Then again, it's looking like the current survey might just yield the same answer anyway.... LOL!
The fact that I have 9, 10, 11, and 3/8, totally misses the fact that I use my two 10mm chucks more than the others by a wide margin.
It might be good to ask the same question a different way. "What size do you use most?" I think that would size up the market a bit better for @a smile.
Then again, it's looking like the current survey might just yield the same answer anyway.... LOL!
CNC lathe?? Ok spill @Upnorth.! What kind of lathe? pictures? tell us more. Maybe in the CNC forum area ?
@RobinHood Rudy that's a stellar effort! thanks for all the details. 16" chuck - 5/8" key that's an interesting one.
I think John you've got an idea there. @a smile I think if you decide to make a wrench with different sized tips - the tips need to be tooless to swap one tip for another.
a smile
Lifelong hobby - cold iron
Yes, when you see the actual key, you will understand my long-term plan, the hexagonal part and the middle M6 thread hole is the future expansion, locking other dimensions and other tools extension connection location. You can try to make some samples yourself sometime. I'll provide you with the drawings.
I'll post some photos when it's up and running. It's a small desktop type made by a company called Hercus in Australia. Google Hercus compulathe if you want to see what they look like. Mine is in pieces right now. Has not been in production for a long time but has a following. Came with no electronics so it's getting a Centroid Acorn.
@Upnorth I have a Hercus!!! It's a Hercus branded as Rockford. And I had a friend install Centroid Acorn and new motors. And I bought a new computer for it. Interesting you have a air chuck. I didn't get that. Does it have a tailstock? Tool changer?
Two big boxes. Arrived clean and undamaged. Full of tools! 
10, 11 12mm sizes.
12 mm in the box.
12mm unpacked. There are some differences in material in the different sizes.
10mm disassembled
Here is the tool disassembled. Note the brass pin and spring inside the hole which presses on the rod keeping it in place. Yet it slides easily back and forth on the ground flat on the bottom of the adjustable rod. Beautifully knurled nut and spacer locks the adjustable arm in place.
Close up of the brass pin/pusher and spring. Smart detail here - when disassembled the pin does not go flying across the room. The access hole above is too small for it to pop out.
In the box the tool comes disassembled. Thoughful detail - there is steel plug in the hole for the adjusting arm. You push the adjusting arm through and the plug pops out without having to struggle with reloading the spring loaded pin. The plug is nice stainless steel with smooth edges.
This is the spinning handle assembly. The bolt goes through the handle and locks onto the end of the adjustable arm. There is just enough clearance for the stainless handle to still spin yet the handle is firmly locked on to the arm.
Lasered toosmile logo. The depth of cut control on each of the 6 sides is precise. The size of flat is exactly the same.
Again - Fantastic job @a smile. You have set a high bar on what can be done. Congratulations.
10, 11 12mm sizes. 12 mm in the box. 12mm unpacked. There are some differences in material in the different sizes. 10mm disassembledHere is the tool disassembled. Note the brass pin and spring inside the hole which presses on the rod keeping it in place. Yet it slides easily back and forth on the ground flat on the bottom of the adjustable rod. Beautifully knurled nut and spacer locks the adjustable arm in place.
Close up of the brass pin/pusher and spring. Smart detail here - when disassembled the pin does not go flying across the room. The access hole above is too small for it to pop out.
In the box the tool comes disassembled. Thoughful detail - there is steel plug in the hole for the adjusting arm. You push the adjusting arm through and the plug pops out without having to struggle with reloading the spring loaded pin. The plug is nice stainless steel with smooth edges.
This is the spinning handle assembly. The bolt goes through the handle and locks onto the end of the adjustable arm. There is just enough clearance for the stainless handle to still spin yet the handle is firmly locked on to the arm.
Lasered toosmile logo. The depth of cut control on each of the 6 sides is precise. The size of flat is exactly the same.
Again - Fantastic job @a smile. You have set a high bar on what can be done. Congratulations.
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Here is the video showing the key.
We're working on that. Shortly I hope for some answers. It is on amazon.com but only 1 size and it's not 10mm (it's 11mm) and involves shipping. Hang tight we'll have some answers soon.
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So late to the party butwhat the heck.
Two lathes and five chucks.
SB9
Cushman 3 jaw scroll chuck.
Key 0.283
Chuck .299
Watson 4 jaw independent chuck.
Key 70mm
Chuck 72.8mm
Made the key for this chuck last weekend and coincidentally it fits the 3 jaw too which is a square hole but has grooves on the flats.
Bison 3" three jaw scroll chuck.
Key 0.231
Chuck 0.245
Colchester Dominion 15"
4 jaw no name independent chuck.
Key 0.510
Chuck 0.525
3 jaw Union Mfg. scroll chuck.
Key 0.423
Chuck 0.463
John
Two lathes and five chucks.
SB9
Cushman 3 jaw scroll chuck.
Key 0.283
Chuck .299
Watson 4 jaw independent chuck.
Key 70mm
Chuck 72.8mm
Made the key for this chuck last weekend and coincidentally it fits the 3 jaw too which is a square hole but has grooves on the flats.
Bison 3" three jaw scroll chuck.
Key 0.231
Chuck 0.245
Colchester Dominion 15"
4 jaw no name independent chuck.
Key 0.510
Chuck 0.525
3 jaw Union Mfg. scroll chuck.
Key 0.423
Chuck 0.463
John
Thanks John… another John.
Follow up @jorogi 70mm key on Watson is that 7.0mm?
Your Colchester I’m thinking it is 13mm. What size is your union mfg. ? Is it a big chuck?
Danged spell checker. That's my story and I'm stickin to it.
Yes, 7mm.
SB
3 jaw, 5 inches
4 jaw, 6 inches
Colchester
3 jaw, 9 inches
4 jaw, 12 inches
John
@a smile clarified how he had time to make all these chuck index keys. He designed them and made many prototypes you can see in his post on making key racks. Once he was happy with the design he had a local company make them for him. That's pretty neat - come up with a design and then have it manufactured. I want to do that too. Turns out some parts of the manufacturing they just could not manage so in the end @a smile did a lot of work anyway.