A universal machining system capable of accommodating multiple small-batch or one-off machining jobs, involving workpieces of different diameter and composition, comprises a rotating chuck having multiple jaws that may be adjusted positionally inward or outward towards the longitudinal centerline of the workpiece or removed entirely, and a tool turret capable of holding a variety of socketed tools. System also comprises a measurement sensor, which may be separate or comprise one of the socketed tools. A control program collects machining instructions for a series of workpieces, and directs the chuck, the tool turret, the measurement sensor, and at least one robot to load/unload workpieces and tools from the chuck and turret, respectively, measure workpieces and tools for quality control, and track available storage, overriding or skipping individual machining instructions as dictated by safety parameters and the availability of raw materials and tools.

A hybrid holding device used in a milling machine, comprising a base with mounting structures for detachably fastening the hybrid holding device securely onto a workbench of the milling machine in a fixed stationary position. The hybrid holding device further includes moveable multi-jaw assembly that includes at least three jaws that directly receive and securely hold a workpiece without an adapter.

To prevent a lowering of gripping force due to temperature changes, provided is a gripping mechanism including a plurality of chuck claws that, when having come close to each other, generate a gripping force on a gripped body; a chuck body that holds the plurality of chuck claws on a common planar surface, and moves them on the planar surface; and a plurality of chuck plates that, when each of the plurality of chuck claws grips the gripped body, are interposed between each of the plurality of chuck claws and the gripped body. A thermal expansion coefficient .sub.1 of the plurality of chuck claws, a thermal expansion coefficient .sub.2 of the plurality of chuck plates and a thermal expansion coefficient .sub.W of the gripped body have a relationship indicated by
.sub.W<.sub.1<.sub.2(Equation 1).

Disclosed is the shape of a curvature of two or more pathways for a device having moving parts that cause movement of an object along those pathways, such that the device can locate or hold the object. In the embodiment, an apparatus is described that centers and optionally locks an object at a desired location. The applications for such a device are varied and can range from chucking a workpiece of varying diameters in a lathe, to centering a drone on a landing zone, to medical and scientific devices to capture and center objects to study, to moving atomic level objects using an electromagnetic field. The scope of this disclosure is the mathematics that defines the mirrored curvatures of each curved pathway and the positioning of the curvatures relative to each other, and the relative movement of the mirrored curvatures to cause the desired effect.

An improved tool for use with a potter's wheel is provided, and the tool configured to attach to the spinning potter's wheel and hold a workpiece in the center thereof. The tool comprises an upper plate and a lower plate that are rotatable with respect to each other. A holding arm can extend through an arm slot in the upper plate to engage a spiral ridge of the lower plate. Relative rotation between the upper plate and the lower plate causes the holding arm to move inward or outward in a radial direction to engage a workpiece. The lower plate comprises fish-shaped apertures to engage fasteners on the potter's wheel in a manner to reduce chatter and improve the longevity of the tool.

A portable pipe threader includes a stand upon which a pipe is supported, a carriage supported by the stand upon which at least one pipe threading tool is supported, a spindle including a plurality of chuck jaws for clamping the pipe, the chuck jaws configured to move radially inward along a travel path toward an outer surface of the pipe, and a sensor system configured to determine a location of the chuck jaws along the travel path and relative to the outer surface of the pipe, the sensor system configured to output a signal corresponding to the location of each of the chuck jaws when engaged with the outer surface of the pipe. The portable pipe threader further includes an electronic controller in communication with the sensor system configured to determine an outer diameter of the pipe in response to the signal output from the sensor system.

A rotary chuck for processing wafer-shaped articles comprises a chuck body having a series of gripping pins that are movable by sliding horizontally and in unison relative to the chuck body from a first position in which the gripping pins are relatively more retracted into the chuck body to a second position in which the gripping pins are relatively more extended from the chuck body and in which the gripping pins are positioned so as to support a wafer-shaped article of a predetermined diameter.

A rotary chuck for processing wafer-shaped articles comprises a chuck body having a series of gripping pins that are movable by sliding horizontally and in unison relative to the chuck body from a first position in which the gripping pins are relatively more retracted into the chuck body to a second position in which the gripping pins are relatively more extended from the chuck body and in which the gripping pins are positioned so as to support a wafer-shaped article of a predetermined diameter.

A gripping mechanism includes: a plurality of chuck claws that, when having come close to each other, generate a gripping force on a gripped body; a chuck body that holds the plurality of chuck claws on a common planar surface, and moves them on the planar surface; and a plurality of chuck plates that, when each of the plurality of chuck claws grips the gripped body, are interposed between each of the plurality of chuck claws and the gripped body, wherein a thermal expansion coefficient .sub.l of the plurality of chuck claws, a thermal expansion coefficient .sub.2 of the plurality of chuck plates and a thermal expansion coefficient .sub.W of the gripped body has a relationship indicated by Equation 1:

.sub.W<.sub.1<.sub.2 (Equation 1)

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a clamping chuck with a chuck body, an axis of rotation, at least two clamps, a spiral ring, which is used as an adjustment stroke mechanism of the adjustment of at least two clamps and which can be actuated via a drive, and at least one clamping stroke mechanism, which can be actuated via a traction mechanism. The clamping stroke mechanism is arranged parallel to the axis of rotation in the chuck body and can be moved parallel to the axis of rotation.