The Microcentric Rotating Air Chuck series uses pneumatic actuation to provide infinitely variable clamping force for precision CNC turning operations. Unlike hydraulic chucks that deliver full force at all times, air-operated clamping allows the operator to dial in precisely the force needed — critical for thin-walled rings, bushings, and aerospace components where jaw pressure can distort the workpiece. All models feature a through-center coolant or air passage (except the compact 3-50-3) for automated part ejection and chip clearing.

How is clamping force controlled?

Air pressure to the integrated cylinder is regulated at the source between 20 and 100 psi (0.14–0.7 MPa). The clamping force scales linearly with pressure — reducing pressure from 100 to 50 psi halves the gripping force. This allows the same chuck to handle both heavy roughing cuts at full pressure and delicate finish passes on thin-walled parts at reduced pressure, without changing jaws or setups.

Model selection

Model numbers encode diameter (first digit), jaw stroke in thousandths (middle), and jaw count (last digit). The "C" suffix (3-50C-3) adds a coolant/air passage through the chuck center. Ultra-precision versions achieving 0.00002" TIR are available for the 4" through 8" sizes.