SMW e-motion Power Chuck Enables Contact-Free Adjustment

SMW Autoblok’s fully sealed MM e-motion 4-jaw chuck provides contact-free adjustment of the gripping force without unclamping parts during every phase of the production process. Each jaw of the MM e-motion is independently controlled and monitored by an individual electromechanical drive, which enables many clamping functions, including self-centering, compensating and individual jaw movement — all within one fully automated chuck.

The company says that the power chuck is well suited for turn-mill applications as well as horizontal and vertical lathes. The MM e-motion is said to be optimal for heavy-duty precision machining of easily deformed workpieces and provides an automatic center adjustment for any workpiece shape or configuration, including round, square, rectangular and irregular shapes, in addition to workpieces with different wall thicknesses.

The MM e-motion also comes in a lightweight (LW) version that is well suited for turn mills when the load-bearing capacity on the spindle is limited. The LW features the same functionality as the standard MM e-motion, yet enables higher workpiece weight and more usable Z stroke.

The chuck body and internal parts are case hardened for increased chuck life and higher rigidity, precision and durability. This specialty power chuck accepts inch-serrated top jaws and is available in sizes from 500 to 1,250 mm.

The power chuck features permanent monitoring of the grip force and jaw positions, which can be stored and recalled when the process needs to be repeated. That digital data can then be easily interchanged between different machines in the same production facility or at other facilities worldwide. SMW Autoblok’s MM e-motion uses the F280 wireless inductive radial coupler system which transmits energy and data contact-free through an air gap of approximately 3 mm between rotating and stationary components.