WORKINGHOLDING DEVICES

A device used to locate and hold a work piece. Work holding refers to any device that is used
to a secure a work piece and hold it in place against the forces of machining. The most basic
work holding device is a simple clamp that is screwed into place on a machining centers
table, but work holding can also involve complex fixtures that are custom-built for particular
parts.

Types of Work Holding Devices:

Work pieces are held in lathe with the assistance of chucks, faceplates, or lathe
centers. A lathe chuck is a device that exerts pressure on the work piece to hold it secure to
the headstock spindle or tailstock spindle. Some common work holding devices are given
below


1. CARRIERS AND CATCH PLATES

These are in general used for driving the work piece when it is held in between two centers
namely head stock and tail stock. Carriers are also called as the driving dogs. These are
attached to the work piece by the help of setscrews. Whereas the catch plates are pinned to
the headstock. Figure 2.1






















Figure 2.1 Carriers and Catch Plates

2. FACE PLATES

Faceplates are used for holding those work pieces, which cannot be held both by centers
and by chucks. The construction of the faceplates is very simple. It consists of a center
bore and plain and radial slots through the plate for facilitating the holding of the work
piece. The central bore has a radius equal to that of the radius of the spindle of the




lathe. And the plain and radial slots provide a healthy platform for holding the jobs by
using T-bolts and clamps. Figure 2.2






















Figure 2.2 Face Plate

3. ANGLE PLATES

These are used along with faceplates for maintaining the given work piece horizontal i.e.
perpendicular to the tool used. Angle plates consist of two faces, which are highly
machined, and these also have the provision of holes for the easy clamping of the work
piece to it. Figure 2.3


















Figure 2.3 Angle Plates


4. MANDRELS

This type of work holding devices are employed for holding previously drilled or bored
hole so as to facilitate effective outer surface machining. The work is loaded over the
mandrels between the centers. The ends of the mandrels are made slightly smaller than
the original diameter. This is done for effective gripping of the mandrel in the chuck or
any other holding device. In general the material used for the manufacturing of the
mandrels is plain carbon steel. Figure 2.4



















Figure 2.4 Mandrels

5. RESTS

Rest is a work holding device, which is used to hold the work piece when the work piece
of very long length is to be held. In general when a long piece is to be held it may have
directly held then there arises deflection in the work piece due its own weight. So to
prevent the deflection in the work piece rests of various types are used. Figure 2.5 Some
of the rests being used are:-

o Steady rest o
Follower rest



















Figure 2.5 Rests

6. CHUCKS

A chuck is a work holding device. It is used for holding work over a lathe machine,
which is having large length and small diameter, and also for jobs, which are unable to
mount
on between the centers i.e., head stock and tail stock centers. A chuck is also employed when
a non-axis symmetrical object is to be mounted over the lathe. The chucks are most commonly used work holding devices. These are fixed directly to the spindle of the lathe by means of screws and a back plate. In general there are various types of chucks. Figure 2.6




















Figure 2.6 Different Types of Chucks

TYPES OF CHUCKS

o FOUR JAW OR INDEPENDENT CHUCK

A chuck that uses four jaws to surround the part. Most four-jaw chucks are independent
chucks, with jaws that open and close independently of one another. Figure 2.7




























Figure 2.7 Four Jaw or Independent Chuck




o THREE JAW CHUCK OR SELF-CENTERING CHUCK

A 3 jaw chuck is a specialized clamp used to hold an object with radial symmetry. This
engineering tool gives a firm grip to the item being worked on hence enhancing accuracy.
They are best suited to holding hexagonal and circular objects. Figure 2.8





















Figure 2.8 Three Jaw or Self-Centering Chuck

o AIR OR HYDRAULIC OPERATED CHUCK

Air or hydraulic operated chucks have an air actuating cylinder built in the chuck body.
They are used in situations where the entire spindle hole of a machine may be used to
maximize rough stock size. Commonly used in oil field manufacturing where entire
lengths of pipe are inserted through the machine spindle and threaded. Other types of
power chucks make use of a cylinder mounted to a draw tube for the actuation of the
chucks. The draw tube restricts the through hole size and ultimately the raw material
diameter. Figure 2.9


















Figure 2.9 Air or Hydraulic Operated Chuck
O MAGNETIC CHUCK

Magnetic chucks use permanent magnet which means that no power is required to hold
the load and the chucks are failsafe if the power fails, the load stays held. Permanent
magnet chucks have no day-to-day running costs. Electro-permanent magnetic chucks
only require power for switching so running costs are very low. They provide very high
power for clamping larger work pieces. Figure 2.10























Figure 2.10 Magnetic Chuck

o COLLET CHUCK

A collet chuck is, a sub-type of chuckthat forms a collar around the object to be held
and exerts a strong clamping force on the object when it is tightened, usually by means of
a tapered outer collar. It may be used to hold a work piece or a tool. Figure 2.11





















Figure 2.11 Collet Chuck

o COMBINATION CHUCK

A chuck with jaws that may be moved simultaneously or independently. A
combination chuck combines the scroll self-centering action of a scroll chuck with the
independent jaw movement of an independent jaw chuck. This chuck may be used as
a scroll chuck and move all the jaws simultaneously or one jaw at a time.
Combination chucks are available with 2 piece jaws with a removable top jaw. Figure
2.12






















Figure 2.12 Combination Chuck

o DRILL CHUCK

A drill chuck is a specialized self-centering, three-jaw chuck, usually with capacity of
0.5 in (13 mm) or less and rarely greater than 1 in (25 mm), used to hold drill bits or
other rotary tools. This type of chuck is used on tools ranging from professional
equipment to inexpensive hand and power drills for domestic use; it is the type a
person who does not normally work with machine tools is most likely to be familiar
with. Figure 2.13



















Figure 2.13 Drill Chuck
7. A-CLAMP

o These clamps are versatile and easy to use. o
They use a cam powered action.
o They prevent twisting of work pieces. Figure 2.14























Figure 2.14 A-Clamp

8. C-CLAMP
o Clamping devices are used by the operator for safe handling and ease of operation.
Using "C" - clamps work pieces can be fastened to angle plates for layout operations.
o C" - clamps are available from 1 to 16 inches. Figure 2.15






















Figure 2.15 C-Clamp

9. DRILL VISE
o Drill vise is a holding device used for clamping most work pieces while drilling.
o One of the most commonly used work-holding devices is also called a drill press vise.



o The vises provide the quickest and most efficient set up method for parallel work. o
Available in many sizes. Figure 2.16
























Figure 2.16 Drill Vise

10. GOOSENECK CLAMP
o Gooseneck is a hold down device used to fasten a work piece to a table.
o The measuring surfaces are lapped and polished to 200 millionths of an inch.
o The gooseneck clamp allows the top of the clamping bolt to be positioned below the
surface to be machined. Figure 2.17





















Figure 2.17 Gooseneck Clamp

11. KANT-TWIST CLAMP
O Kant-Twist clamp is a heavy duty clamping devices.
O Clamping devices are used for safe handling and ease of operation.


o Kant-Twist clamps weight approximately half as much as comparable C-clamps.
O They are superior to standard C-clamps.
O They eliminate distortion and twisting action. Figure 2.18


























Figure 2.18 Kant-Twist Clamp

12. PARALLEL CLAMP
o A parallel clamp is a low reach heavy duty clamping device, also known as machinist
or toolmakers' clamp.
o Clamping devices are used for safe handling and ease of operation. Stronger and
smaller than a C-clamp. Figure 2.19




















Figure 2.19 Parallel Clamp



13. STEP BLOCKS
o Step blocks help to support the work piece.
o The height of the work piece determines the correct step block on which a clamp can
be placed to secure the work piece.
o Step blocks are extremely useful clamping aids.
o They are used in conjunction with gooseneck, "U" - clamps and strap clamps. Figure
2.20


























Figure 2.20 Step Blocks

14. T-BOLT
o Head has a T-shape and is used to fasten work to the table. o
T-bolts are used on milling machines tables and faceplates.
o The heads of the T-bolts often fit the slots on the drill press tables. Figure 2.21























Figure 2.21 T-Bolt

15. U-CLAMP
o "U" shaped device used for holding down a work piece.
o It has a continuous slot.

o One advantage of the "U" - clamp is that it can be removed without taking the nut off
the T-bolt. Figure 2.22


















Figure 2.22 U-Clamp

16. V-BLOCKS
o V-blocks hold round stock for layout work.
o Round work pieces can be securely fastened in a set of V-blocks.
o To prevent the shaft from bending under cutting pressure a V-block and screw jack
can be used to support the shaft. Figure 2.23




























Figure 2.23 V-Blocks