The CDMeccanica OUTLOCK series is a 3-jaw self-centering chuck designed and manufactured in Vignola, Italy. Its defining feature is a micrometric jaw locking mechanism that eliminates radial band and axial end float during jaw preparation — enabling faultless turning or grinding of soft jaws directly on the machine tool spindle. This in-situ jaw boring capability saves setup time by eliminating the need to remove, bore, and re-install jaws on a separate fixture.

How does the OUTLOCK jaw locking system work?

Conventional self-centering chucks have inherent clearance between the scroll and jaw teeth, which produces radial play and axial float when boring soft jaws. The OUTLOCK's micrometric adjustment mechanism locks the jaws in position with zero backlash, eliminating this play. The result is bored jaw profiles that are truly concentric and square to the spindle axis — improving workpiece roundness and reducing jaw wear over time.

What are the NC variants?

CDMeccanica offers two heavy-duty NC variants — ART. 525 NC and ART. 575 NC — engineered for digitally controlled CNC turning processes. These are built with exceptional sturdiness to withstand very heavy gripping conditions during jaw LOCK slot machining or jaw re-setting, handling jaw gripping forces up to approximately 13,000 kg. Maximum allowable pressure for the reverse aluminum jaw variant is calculated at 20.85 bar based on a piston surface area of 215 cm².

What applications benefit most from the OUTLOCK design?

The OUTLOCK is particularly valuable in high-mix, low-volume turning shops where jaw changes are frequent and setup time directly impacts profitability. The ability to bore jaws in place — with guaranteed concentricity — reduces jaw preparation time and eliminates the need for a dedicated jaw boring fixture. CDMeccanica also manufactures a full range of soft jaws, hardened jaws, monoblock jaws, and finger jaws compatible with the OUTLOCK and other self-centering chuck brands including Berg, Howa, and Kitagawa-type interfaces.