4 jaw chuck jaw numbering

So my 4 jaw chuck doesn't have any legible numbers on the jaws. Up to now I have written them on in marker pen as required which is fine but they do rub off rather easily. I was thinking about getting the number stamps out but then thought do I go 1,2,3,4 or do I go A1,B1,A2,B2 or is this over complicating things.

Any thoughts.

David.

Surely on a independant 4 jaw it does not matter which goes where

Indeed, they are all screw forms, they only stamp numbers on the order of the jaws on the face of the chuck so that you can remember which ones you have set up. not because it's important which goes where. 

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 24/10/2016 10:49:38

You only need to number the jaws on a self centering chuck, whether 3 jaw or 4. I do tend to keep the jaws of my 4 jaw chucks in the same positions out of habit, take it out, turn it round, put it in, next jaw and so on.

Ian S C

You are likely to have difficulty with stamps, as the jaws will be hard. If you do decide to mark (unnecessarily) then perhaps etching ?

Tim

No but when adjusting jaws it is useful.

David.

I was thinking of the chuck body.

David.

You can mark the body (usually) with a series of 1, 2, 3, 4 centre-punch marks on the cylindrical surface.

Cheers, Tim

.

That may indeed be useful. David ['though I hadn't contemplated it before]

Thinking about the 4-jaw centering process;

I might be tempted to mark the body N E W S [as in points of the compass].

MichaelG.

P.S.

Solar astro-photographers may prefer the alternative sequence N W S E

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 24/10/2016 12:31:20

Just mark 2 opposing positions with a center punch mark,. no need to mark all 4 positions, unless you really struggle to remember the last jaw you adjusted.

Nick

Edited By Nick Hughes on 24/10/2016 12:39:05

Lunar astrophotographers may disappear in a puff of logic trying to decide.

most 4 jaw chucks have a manufacturers label on the face of the chuck.

Use the jaws adjacent to the label if you are doing repetition type work. Maybe mark the bit of work with felt tip to coincide with the label, if it has to go back after another operation.

Yes you wear two jaws out quicker than the other two. And in my life time, i dont think i will notice.

This is indeed why I was thinking of doing it. Also I had to return a job to the 4 jaw after a couple of weeks, The numbers I had written on in marker were not visible and I had no idea which jaws I had slackened off. If I had numbered them I would almost certainly slackened 1 and 2 or A1 and B1.

It does seem that I'm being a bit dim here but my mind doesn't work the same as most other peoples.

David.

Nearly all chucks have a logo, which is 12 oclock

Then I line up my jaws on the cross slide and enter the first one at 10 o'clock(smallest tooth) and engage it, insert the second at 7 o'clock and engage it, then the third at 5 and the 4th at two

So you don't really need numbers, just the order of engagement in relation to the logo and the first jaw (smallest tooth one) progressing clockwise to the largest tooth size

Works for 3 and 4 jaw chucks, you only really need to know where number 1 goes in relation to the logo and the rest fall into place

simples!

Edited By Ady1 on 24/10/2016 15:21:54

Should the numbers increase clockwise or anticlockwise? And should this be viewed from the headstock or the tailstock end?

Perhaps 0-3 would work better than 1-4,? Why not ABCD. 00, 01, 10, 11 might be useful if it's a digital lathe?

I'll get my coat^H^H^H^H workshop overalls...

Neil

You could even have playstation markings with triangle, circle, x, square. I saw a kid with that tattoo once.

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 24/10/2016 17:34:34

I was wondering why my chuck is marked 1234 , is it just so you know which you have moved then ?

Phil

Now, just think. If a 4 jaw chuck was invented today, every jaw would have to be a different colour. wouldnt that make life easier

Should the numbers increase clockwise or anticlockwise?

tsk tsk tsk

I should have said anticlockwise, wot a muppet

As viewed from the tailstock end of the lathe

---------------------------------------------

Nearly all chucks have a logo, which is 12 oclock

Then I line up my jaws on the cross slide and enter the first one at 10 o'clock(smallest tooth) and engage it, insert the second at 7 o'clock and engage it, then the third at 5 and the 4th at two

So you don't really need numbers, just the order of engagement in relation to the logo and the first jaw (smallest tooth one) progressing anticlockwise to the largest tooth size

Works for 3 and 4 jaw chucks, you only really need to know where number 1 goes in relation to the logo and the rest fall into place

simples! (if you're not a muppet)

--------------------------------------------------

Edited By Ady1 on 25/10/2016 00:32:24

Not one of my chucks has a distinguishable logo. (They may have done 80 years ago, who knows?) But I do like the idea of number stamping 1,2,3,4 on the body next to the jaws, just for keeping track of where the high spot is when truing up work. Sometimes I lose track of whether I am sneaking up on true, or have gone past it and the high spot has now moved to the other side "over centre". Chalk marks and pen marks all seem to get wiped off by greasy mitts during the process.