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Workholdingengineering projectDesign study

Three-Jaw ID-Expanding Chuck Study

A mechanical study of an ID-expanding three-jaw chuck and associated jaw deflection/manufacturing considerations.

MY FOCUSDeveloped the concept, load/deflection checks, jaw design iterations, and manufacturing drawing lineage.
SolidWorksMechanical designStatic analysisManufacturing drawings

ENGINEERING VALUE

Shows rigorous workholding development across concept, calculation, analysis, and manufacturing documentation.

PROJECT SCOPE

Mechanical design and analysis study

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ENGINEERING STUDY / CHUCKJS—01

Engineering concept illustration.

01 / THE PROBLEM

The engineering challenge.

An internal-diameter workholding concept needed enough expansion and stiffness while controlling contact, travel, jaw stress, and manufacturability.

02 / CONSTRAINTS

What the solution must consider.

  • Expansion travel, jaw stiffness, contact pressure, part distortion and tool access must be balanced within a manufacturable assembly.

03 / ENGINEERING APPROACH

Reasoning before geometry.

01

Engineering method

Iterate jaw geometry and loading assumptions, compare analytical and static-analysis results, and refine manufacturable details.

02

Workflow features

Concept development; Jaw deflection calculations; Static finite-element review; Manufacturing drawing iterations; Vendor-component integration.

04 / DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION

Connecting intent to execution.

Rev G developed the jaw and deflection study; Rev H continued the manufacturing drawing revisions.

  • Concept development
  • Jaw deflection calculations
  • Static finite-element review
  • Manufacturing drawing iterations
  • Vendor-component integration

05 / VALIDATION

The checks behind the design.

Design study

The study combines jaw-deflection calculations, static-analysis review and drawing iterations to evaluate stiffness, travel and manufacturability.

06 / OUTCOME

The value of the work.

Shows rigorous workholding development across concept, calculation, analysis, and manufacturing documentation.

THE ENGINEERING PRINCIPLE

Grip force, jaw deflection and tool access must be considered together.

Internal expanding workholding can improve external tool access, but the expansion mechanism also changes contact, stiffness and part distortion. A mechanical study needs to connect travel and load paths to manufacturability and a prove-out plan.

A question for a technical conversation

Which load cases and contact assumptions would you check before choosing jaw geometry?

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LET’S BUILD SOMETHING THAT WORKS

Good design belongs
on the shop floor.

Considering a role in mechanical design, manufacturing methods,
fixture design, or estimation? Let’s connect.