6 jaw chuck

[drsportster]

Educate me here on the purpose of a 6 jaw chuck it seems the same action as a 3 jaw .

 

[timcasbolt]

They're universal like a 3-jaw. Only advantage I see is more contact area on the workpiece. Lot more cleaning involved. I prefer collets whenever possible.

 

[Dusty MI]

Try a 4 jaw chuck.

 

[4wdtom]

Educate me here on the purpose of a 6 jaw chuck it seems the same action as a 3 jaw .

I think the main advantage is for thin wall tubes, they don't crush the work as easily. And work for 6 sided work also, of course a 3 jaw will work here too but again if it happens to be thin a 6 jaw is better.

 

[Dusty MI]

Better grip if your project is rather large.

 

[4wdtom]

Better grip if your project is rather large.

Good point.

 

[moresmoke]

Good point.

Or soft like plastic.

 

[Tony in SD]

Try a 4 jaw chuck.

I have. They are great for noncylindical objects. Not so much for round stock.

 

[Randyscottsboro]

Very thin or soft material that needs machining and not deformed.

 

[Larry986]

I have. They are great for noncylindical objects. Not so much for round stock.

Could you please explain this statement? I can't understand what you could possibly mean. Retired 30 plus year machinist putting round stock in four jaw chucks all the time here.

 

[4wdtom]

Could you please explain this statement? I can't understand what you could possibly mean. Retired 30 plus year machinist putting round stock in four jaw chucks all the time here.

Maybe flat plate, or rectangular, or other odd shapes? I too use a 4 jaw independent often for round stock, but also for odd shapes like I mentioned from time to time.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

6 jaw chuck is supposedly for thin walled material.

 

[Larry986]

Maybe flat plate, or rectangular, or other odd shapes? I too use a 4 jaw independent often for round stock, but also for odd shapes like I mentioned from time to time.

In thirty some years I have put a lot of odd shapes in four jaw chucks also, but my question to Tony concerned his statement "not so much for round stock". A four jaw is much more suitable as you get into larger sizes and heavier cuts, as I have seen parts walk out of a three jaw more than once.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

With a 3 or 6 jaw, you can't make a pass with the cutting tool and take the piece out of the chuck until the operation is done. The work will never be on center again, unless it's an exceptionally expensive chuck that hasn't been abused.

 

[gears]

Could you please explain this statement? I can't understand what you could possibly mean. Retired 30 plus year machinist putting round stock in four jaw chucks all the time here.

I don't know about the OP but I'm too lazy to center stuff in a 4 jaw. I can do it but prefer the 3 jaw's "self centering" ability.

 

[Tony in SD]

In thirty some years I have put a lot of odd shapes in four jaw chucks also, but my question to Tony concerned his statement "not so much for round stock". A four jaw is much more suitable as you get into larger sizes and heavier cuts, as I have seen parts walk out of a three jaw more than once.

I have little experience with larger cuts but my point was that it is easier to center a 3 jaw than a 4 jaw on round stock.

 

[Larry986]

I have little experience with larger cuts but my point was that it is easier to center a 3 jaw than a 4 jaw on round stock.

I see where you're coming from but thats more of a preference than a capability. the way I read your post,it sounded to me like you meant relative capability between the two. Mystery solved.