What do the tire pressure of a car and the clamping force of a lathe chuck have in common? Both should be checked regularly to ensure the maximum process safety and efficiency in daily use. The new versatile clamping force tester IFT is designed for this purpose. It can be used on 2, 3, and 6-jaw chucks up to 6,000 RPM regardless of the chuck manufacturer, and at a maximum clamping force of 90 kN per jaw. Adjustable measuring extensions allow variations in clamping diameters between 72 mm, 88 mm, and 108 mm. Data evaluation is done with wireless data transfer with an app on a tablet computer or with other terminals. The battery life of the measuring head is more than 90 minutes, and it takes less than 3 minutes to recharge.

Static or dynamic measurement

The clamping force tester can be used for static measurement such as determining loss in clamping force under speed, or for individual adjustment of the required initial clamping force for individual machining operations. SCHUNK recommends regularly checking the clamping force at the beginning of a serial operation, and also between the maintenance intervals again and again. It is the regular verification that ensures the optimal safety. If possible, the clamping force should be measured in a state that is how the lathe chuck is used in an individual clamping situation. If for example, top jaws with clamping steps are used, the operator should measure the clamping force in the same way on the same jaw step as he will apply it to the workpiece later. If the measurement reveals that the clamping force is below the target value, SCHUNK recommends that the operator intervene immediately to ensure safety of the ongoing operation. Depending on the condition of the lathe chuck, it is appropriate either to lubricate the lathe chuck or to completely disassemble, clean, and then lubricate it. This service is also offered by SCHUNK in a service package. Your benefit: In order to maintain permanently high performance, precision, and process safety, your SCHUNK lathe chucks are thoroughly checked for hidden damages after disassembly of the individual components by SCHUNK service engineers. Defects or damages can be recognized early, and consequential damages can be avoided.

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