[kevbo]

I need help on determining the best practice for machining soft jaws on a stationary chuck for a VMC. I recently purchased a Haas VF-3 to use for machining sample parts. I need to clamp on a Ø166MM, at least that is the current part Ø, which will change in the future with different orders. Any advice/method is appreciated.

[MSFAB]

Are you clamping on the inside or outside?
This method works for both ways. I would dial in the center of the chuck. Make an aluminum ring with dowwel pins in it at three points. Drill coresponding holes at the same dia as the dowel pins in the ring the in your soft jaws. this ring needs to be bigger than 166mm. install ring onto sft jaws and clamp down on the ring. Then machine the inner dia. You are using this ring as a clamp to hold pressure against the soft jaws while you are machining them. You are using dowel pins to transfer the load from the ring into the soft jaws. The dowel pins are pressed into the ring and then the ring is pressed into the soft jaws. Then tighten the chuck to apply pressure to the dowel pins.
I hope this is a good enough explanation if you need a pictur i am sure i could whip something up in solidworks. Let me know

Cheers
Marcus

[Joe S.]

I just saw this tonight, had to read it to find out what it was:
eBay -12-BORING-RING-CNC-LATHE-CHUCK-SOFT-TOP-JAWS-BORE-JAW