Any facility that utilizes advanced and sizable machinery needs to incorporate stringent protocols to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all of their operators. Utilizing workholding equipment is no exception, so with this in mind we thought we’d pass along a few suggestions for how to approach safety when working with chuck jaws.
Before we launch into our list, it’s worth noting that how a given part is held in place is equally as important as how it will be cut or modified. But along with this, however you plan on cutting or modifying the part will likely alter your approach in how it is held.
Additionally, the process of workholding can be affected by a variety of aspects, including what type of product you are working with and what it is composed of, what critical tolerance requirements you have, the size and shape of the part, and more. It’s vital to take all of these factors into consideration before beginning any new project or working on a new type of product.
A Few Safety Tips
- Select the Right Chuck Jaw for the Job – Effective manufacturing necessitates the use of the right part for a given task. Utilizing the proper workholding part can help you to streamline your operations, speed up your processes, and, most importantly, promote safety. You can review our wide variety of chuck jaws and assorted products to find those ideal for your needs and reach out to our team with any questions.
- Determine If You Need a Custom Solution – Certain projects go beyond standard needs and necessitate products that are tailormade for your given task. If you have workpieces that are troublesome, or those which you believe will not be well-served by in-stock offerings, you can visit our special/custom jaws page for options and then contact our team. You want to make sure any part you’re using will maintain your facility’s safety, and a custom part may be exactly what you need.
- Ensure a Firm Grip – Once you have selected your chuck jaw from the available options, or have ordered a custom part, you’re ready to get to work. At this stage, proper implementation of your chuck and jaw is needed to be certain that any part is secured and safe to be worked on. When parts are not held firmly in place, they can become dislodged by tool pressure, leading to operator or bystander injury, facility damage, and downtime, all things you certainly want to avoid.
- Consider Tool Force – The direction of the force placed on a given piece can alter how the piece needs to be secured, how tightly it should be held, and the type of chuck and jaw you may want to incorporate to ensure proper safety measures. You may also want to consider alternate options for your cuts or alterations to redirect the tool force – coming at a diagonal angle, for instance, will allow you to redistribute the pressure placed on the piece.
- Maintain a Safe Distance – As any reputable machinist can tell you, staying a safe distance from any machine’s moving parts and keeping limbs and appendages clear is vital to ensuring workplace safety. Following the safety protocols your facility has in place in regards to machine operation, as well as utilizing any protective equipment, will go a long way in preventing any unfortunate accidents.
Contact Dillon Today!
If you’re ready to get reliable workholding parts for your operations, be sure to reach out to our dedicated team. We’ll be happy to assist you however we can!
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