Quick release chuck mechanism and method for achieving interchange ability of tool inserts therein

摘要

An improved quick release chuck mechanism is disclosed mountable on a spindle for releasably holding a tool or the like. The chuck mechanism comprises a body member having an end surface. A tool insert having a shoulder is supported by the body member. The end surface is provided with an adjustment for varying the position of the end surface for achieving a predetermined end surface position while mounted on the spindle. The tool insert is releasably held in the body member by an improved locking mechanism that positively forces the shoulder into engagement with the end surface. The improved chuck mechanisms, when mounted on multiple head spindles, provide a method for compensating for tolerance differences that exist between the spindles to achieve identical predetermined end surface positions for the spindles. Consequently, a preset sharpened tool insert of a finite length can be interchanged for a dulled tool insert without requiring any adjustment to maintain the tip of the sharpened tool in a reference plane that is a fixed distance from the predetermined end surface position.