Factors affecting the machining accuracy of a chucked workpiece

Abstract A deviation in shape called ‘out-of-roundness’ is commonly observed in machined workpieces held by three-jaw chucks in turning operations. This out-of-roundness is due mainly to the variation in the stiffness of the workpiece-chuck-spindle system; the stiffness being higher when the cutting force is acting against a jaw and lower when acting along a jaw. This variation in stiffness of the workpiece-chuck-spindle system, termed here ‘directional orientation’, also leads to the generation of a type of parametric vibration. An attempt has been made to get rid of this effect of directional orientation by optimizing the contact between the jaw face and workpiece. Cutting tests were conducted on tapered testpeices with full contact between the jaws and the testpiece. Various contact chord lengths and spindle speeds were used. Measurements of out-of-roundness, limiting depth of cut and radial cutting force were made for analysis. Results show that where the deviation in shape of the testpiece has a three-pronged profile, and the peak at the third multiple is significant in the frequency spectrum of the radial cutting force, a contact chord length equal to the radius of the testpiece gives the optimized clamping condition.