Availability of Kitagawa’s latest evolution of front-mounting, air-operated, 3-jaw chucks is announced by UK agent, 1st Machine Tool Accessories. Designated UPR range, the chucks feature fast gripping times and added stability.

Offering an increase of up to 50 per cent in the size of the through-hole compared with earlier UBR models, as well as better functionality, the new chucks are ideal for gripping pipes for machining in oil country lathes. Workpieces ranging in diameter from 183 mm to 560 mm can be accommodated, whereas the previous maximum pipe diameter was 373 mm.

The chuck body, which is made from high grade alloy steel, is of simpler construction to that of the UBR. All sliding surfaces are hardened and ground to ensure consistent accuracy and performance. A built-in air cylinder removes the need for a separate actuator and draw tube, while jaw stroke and pressure sensors help prevent incomplete gripping force being applied.

A design improvement is the relocation of the pneumatic gland and its support ring to the rear of the chuck, closer to the headstock and away from the chuck face, making it easier to install and leaving more room for tooling access. In addition, the chuck and pneumatic gland can be separated, allowing the customer to remove the chuck much more easily for maintenance. Access to the seals has also been improved to simplify replacement.

Assembled within the chuck body is an air distribution ring with a shorter bracket for mounting to the lathe spindle, ensuring easy centring adjustment. The long jaw stroke creates more flexibility to accommodate various pipe/coupling sizes and stepped material gripping applications.

The full range of Kitagawa Chucks are available from 1st MTA. If you have any questions or queries about the products mentioned in this article, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 0800 783 0510 or enquiries@1mta.com.