[Newbie] Ordered a Vertex rotary table. Am I on the right track with this chuck to go with it?

[JustBen]

Hey all,

Very new to all this and need some advice.
I ordered a VERTEX HV-6 (4-Slot) 6" Horizontal/Vertical Rotary Table with 4-Slot Face Plate which should arrive in a week or so.
It has a MT2 center hole. This will go on a PM727 size mill.




Am I on the right track with looking at this 6" 4 Jaw Independent Chuck and looking to just bolt it down to some t-nuts in the rotary table slots? To me, it saves me from having to drill the chuck or create some backing plate. It also allows me to run a full 6" chuck vs a 5" to allow for bolting to the table.

Thoughts/concerns? Will the chuck sit correctly on the rotary table face when fastened down?

6" 4 Jaw Independent Chuck

www.shars.com

6" 4 Jaw Independent Chuck​

More Information

Mfg SKU #	202-5420
Lathe Chuck Category	Independent Lathe Chucks
Brand	Shars Tool
chuck diameter	6
Thru Hole Size	1.772
mounting	plain back
chuck thickness	2.559
jaw movement	independent
Number of Jaws	4

 

[JustBen]

Or maybe this guy would work at a lower price.

• PRECISION SEMI-STEEL BODIES AMERICAN STANDARD

• TWO PCS TONGUE AND GROOVE REVERSABLE
• HARDENED JAWS.
• STRAIGHT RECESS(PLAIN BACK) SPINDLE MOUNTING

https://cme-tools.com/collections/chucks/products/precision-4-jaw-lathe-chucks?variant=5779106243

 

[durableoreo]

Looks fine. Take it apart and clean the grit out. Both of them.

 

[mksj]

I had an old 4J that I adapted with T nuts to use on an 8" rotary table, More for using with non-round parts as it would be cumbersome to dial in a round part. I have a Super-Dex which also came with a 6" 3J scroll set-tru type of chuck, which is what I use most of the time. Down side is the height and weight (about 130 lbs). On a smaller mill I would go the route you are taking.

The 8" rotary table has 6 slots, I only use two mounting bolts for this chuck.


Super-Dex with direct mount 6" 3J scroll set-tru type of chuck

 

[Chipper5783]

Is there a particular reason you want the 4J independent? If so, I guess you’d dial in the rotary table, then dial in the chuck body to the table, then dial in the piece every time? Seems like a lot of work. With a scroll chuck, once you have it set up on the table, you won’t have to keep dialing it in for every part. You are correct in getting a front mount style chuck (I have a rear mount 3J on an adapter plate on my 4th axis - it is a major pain to get it dialed in).

You can get scroll chucks in 2J, 3J and 4J. 99% of the rotabs and 4axis I have seen have a 3J, occasionally just bolt to the table. I have ordered a couple 4J scroll chucks one for my mill table and one for the 4th axis. It probably won’t perform any better than a 3J would, but I thought it would be cool (coming from Ali, they aren’t expensive - 3J or 4J is about the same, the shipping cost more than the chuck - I’m getting it sent slow boat, it is actually cheaper to ship two - go figure).

I suggest you get a front mount 3J of that size.

 

[JustBen]

I had an old 4J that I adapted with T nuts to use on an 8" rotary table, More for using with non-round parts as it would be cumbersome to dial in a round part. I have a Super-Dex which also came with a 6" 3J scroll set-tru type of chuck, which is what I use most of the time. Down side is the height and weight (about 130 lbs). On a smaller mill I would go the route you are taking.

The 8" rotary table has 6 slots, I only use two mounting bolts for this chuck.


Super-Dex with direct mount 6" 3J scroll set-tru type of chuck

Thank you for the reply with examples. This is helpful.
The weight jump from a 6" RT to 8" is significant for sure.

 

[JustBen]

Is there a particular reason you want the 4J independent? If so, I guess you’d dial in the rotary table, then dial in the chuck body to the table, then dial in the piece every time? Seems like a lot of work. With a scroll chuck, once you have it set up on the table, you won’t have to keep dialing it in for every part. You are correct in getting a front mount style chuck (I have a rear mount 3J on an adapter plate on my 4th axis - it is a major pain to get it dialed in).

You can get scroll chucks in 2J, 3J and 4J. 99% of the rotabs and 4axis I have seen have a 3J, occasionally just bolt to the table. I have ordered a couple 4J scroll chucks one for my mill table and one for the 4th axis. It probably won’t perform any better than a 3J would, but I thought it would be cool (coming from Ali, they aren’t expensive - 3J or 4J is about the same, the shipping cost more than the chuck - I’m getting it sent slow boat, it is actually cheaper to ship two - go figure).

I suggest you get a front mount 3J of that size.

Thanks for the question. I guess I looked at the issue in simple terms. I figured the 4 jaw was the "do everything" solution. Now I am second guessing that idea.

Having never owned or used a rotary table I am trying to picture the process to dial in (a 4 jaw) for something like drilling a 4 hole pattern in some round plate. I would dial in the chuck body to the rotary table to make sure that is centered and then I would center the work? If the chuck is already mounted and centered, I would just indicate the work in using the 4 jaws?

Running a 3 jaw scroll chuck would require some sort of mounting plate right? Would I then be looking at a smaller chuck to allow bolting to the t-nuts in the rotary table? Now the wheels are turning.

 

[francist]

Deleted

 

[Chipper5783]

I guess I looked at the issue in simple terms. I figured the 4 jaw was the "do everything" solution.

Running a 3 jaw scroll chuck would require some sort of mounting plate right? Would I then be looking at a smaller chuck to allow bolting to the t-nuts in the rotary table? Now the wheels are turning.

I don’t know that there is ever a “do everything” solution. Granted, the 4J independent is probably the most versatile, but every job has to be dialed in. I use a 4J a lot on the lathe, dialing it in is not a big deal (hopefully that rotary table has a release, cranking it would get old), of course you are remounting the Rtable (assuming the chuck stays on the RT), you dial something to get your X0, Y0), then you dial the part. If you have a scroll chuck once you get the chuck set on the table center of rotation, then remounting the table requires that you dial the assembly in one time (using any round bar held in the chuck) and you are good to work repeated parts (don’t have to dial them).

Do you have a 4J independent chuck for your lathe? For the occasional time that you have to have a 4J independent chuck, just use the 4J independent from your lathe.

Of course if you have a certain task that comes up pretty often, and actually need the 4J independent - well get what works best. Most of the time a 3J or 4J scroll will make your life much easier.

You can get about any style chuck in either a front mount, or a rear mount. Get a front mount - then you don’t need the adapter plate. However, there is still a bit of a problem. Most of the front mount scroll chucks that I have seen are set up to use 3 mounting bolts, 120 degrees apart. That won’t line up to your RT.

Looking online, it seems the chuck manufacturers offer mounting plates to address this. Shars RT or rotary indexers have slots or holes to match up with the 120 holes in the chucks.

My solution for the scroll chucks I have on order will be to drill them (one for the RT - 4th axis, one for the T slot spacing on the mill table). They are cheap Sanuo chucks, they could end up with lots of holes in them after a few years.

You posted a link to CME Tools, they offer a mounting plate $62.

 

[mickri]

I am looking into getting a Vevor 6' RT. I already have a backing plate with the same threads as the spindle on my lathe. Plan to mount that on the RT. Then I can move a chuck from the lathe to the mill and back without losing concentricity.