2-Jaw Solid Pneumatic Chuck
The solid-center design is used when through-spindle feeding is not required. It is suitable for balanced clamping of shaped parts.
Clean compressed-air clamping for CNC turning, vertical fixtures and fast part changeover.
Pneumatic Chucks
KORRETTO pneumatic chucks use clean compressed air to clamp and release workpieces without a hydraulic oil circuit. They are suitable for CNC lathe workholding applications where the factory has stable air supply, needs faster part changeover, or wants to reduce the risk of hydraulic oil leakage around the work area. This range covers 2-jaw, 3-jaw, 4-jaw, solid, semi-through-hole, through-hole, vertical and front-mounted pneumatic chucks, along with related pneumatic collet chuck solutions.
Quick Selection Table
Start with the workpiece and mounting layout. Then open the series data to compare bore clearance, jaw or collet stroke, air pressure and clamping force. The BK tables state jaw stroke on diameter. The K53 table states single-jaw stroke. Collet tables list clamping torque where shown.
| Workpiece or job | Series and gripping type | Installation and centre passage | Model data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short round blanks, sleeves and discs | BK-SQ · 3 jaws | Lathe spindle; solid centre. No through-spindle feed. | Jaw stroke, force & speed |
| Symmetric shaped parts; opposing gripping faces | BK-SQ · 2 jaws | Lathe spindle; solid centre. Two opposing jaws grip the part. | Jaw stroke, force & speed |
| Square or four-sided parts | BK-SQ · 4 jaws | Lathe spindle; solid centre. Four jaws contact the part. | Jaw stroke, force & speed |
| Parts needing partial centre clearance | BK-KQ · 3 jaws | Lathe spindle; semi-through bore. The part enters the centre cavity but cannot pass through it. | Clearance, stroke & force |
| Vertical fixtures needing centre passage | BK-KL · 3 jaws | Fixed vertical station; through-hole. Air enters from the side. | Bore, stroke & force |
| Short parts on a vertical fixture | BK-SL · 3 jaws | Fixed vertical station; solid centre. The part loads from above. | Mounting, stroke & force |
| Bar or tube passing through a spindle-end chuck | BK-TK · 3 jaws | Front-mounted on the spindle; through-hole. Uses built-in actuation. | Bore, stroke, force & speed |
| Long oil pipes, couplings and drill rods; pipe-end threading | K53 · 3 jaws | Front-mounted; through-bore and built-in cylinder. Long-pipe lathes can use front and rear chucks. | Drawing, jaw travel & force |
| Round bar, shafts and sleeves; repeated collet clamping | JAB / JAW · collet | Rotating spindle. Choose the matching collet and gripping range. | Collet range, stroke & speed |
| Compact rotary layouts with front-side access | JA5 / JA7 · collet | Front-mounted rotary collet chuck. Choose pneumatic or hydraulic actuation. | Bore, torque & speed |
| Round parts on a fixed workholding station | JAS · collet | Stationary fixture. The body stays fixed while the collet grips the part. | Mounting, pressure & torque |
| Round parts held with an SK rubber-flex clamping head | JAB-SK · clamping head | Rotating spindle; pneumatic pull-back clamping. Uses SK32, SK42, SK52 or SK65 heads. | Head range, stroke & torque |
K53 Pneumatic Chucks for Oil Pipe Threading
The K53 holds long oil pipes, couplings and drill rods for end threading. Its cylinder is built into the chuck body. The pipe passes through the centre bore. A long-pipe lathe can use one chuck at the front of the spindle and another at the rear.
The jaws approach quickly, then slow down near the pipe to complete the grip. The customer video shows pipe-end machining. The workshop photo shows finished K53 chucks from a customer production batch.
Pneumatic Lathe Chucks
These pneumatic chucks are used for CNC turning, vertical workholding and pneumatic clamping. Choose by jaw number, solid or through-hole structure, spindle arrangement, workpiece shape, available air pressure and required clamping force. Clamping force and maximum speed must be checked against the technical data for each model.
4-Jaw Solid Pneumatic Chuck
Four jaws help support non-round workpieces. Setup and inspection time should be considered in the production cycle.
3-Jaw Solid Pneumatic Chuck
A practical 3-jaw pneumatic chuck for pneumatic clamping. Confirm gripping range, spindle interface, air pressure and required clamping force.
3-Jaw Semi-Through-Hole Pneumatic Chuck
Used when a full through-hole design is not required but the workpiece or process needs limited internal clearance.
3-Jaw Vertical Through-Hole Pneumatic Chuck
Suitable for vertical or fixed workholding stations where a through-hole and side air supply are required.
3-Jaw Vertical Solid Pneumatic Chuck
Used when a compact vertical pneumatic chuck is needed and the workpiece does not need to pass through the center.
Front-Mounted Through-Hole Pneumatic Chuck
Mounted at the spindle end with a through-hole structure. Selection should follow the chuck drawing, stroke, air pressure and spindle interface requirements.
Pneumatic Collet Chucks and Fixed Workholding Units
Pneumatic collet chucks and fixed collet units are used when the workpiece is better held by a collet-type mechanism or when the clamping unit is installed on a fixed station instead of a rotating spindle.
High-Speed Pneumatic Collet Chuck
Used where fast clamping and clean air operation are required. It should be evaluated together with through-hole size and bar feeding requirements.
Pneumatic / Hydraulic Rotary Collet Chuck
Helps reduce overhang at the spindle nose and can be selected when machine space and maintenance access are important.
Fixed Pneumatic / Hydraulic Collet Chuck
Used where the clamping unit is mounted to a fixed work station. Confirm mounting holes, piping direction and available air or hydraulic supply.
JAB-SK High-Speed Pneumatic Rotary Clamping Head Chuck
Confirm the clamping range, collet type, pressure, speed and machine interface against the JAB-SK technical data.
Not sure whether to choose a pneumatic chuck or a hydraulic chuck?
Send the workpiece drawing, machine interface, available air pressure, required cycle time, cutting load and automation requirements. We can help check whether a pneumatic chuck, hydraulic chuck, collet chuck or another workholding solution is more suitable.
Submit Your ProjectBest Fit / Not the Best Fit: Quick Guide
Best fit
- Stable, clean and dry compressed-air supply is available.
- The process requires fast clamping and release.
- The work area needs to reduce hydraulic oil leakage risk.
- Cutting load is moderate and the required clamping force can be met with air pressure.
May need another solution
- Heavy interrupted cutting or higher clamping force: check Hydraulic Chucks.
- Manual setup and low automation demand: check Manual Chucks.
- Thin-wall or easily marked workpieces: check Rubber-Flex Collets, Collet Chucks or Diaphragm Chucks.
- Internal bore location: check Expanding Mandrels.
Pneumatic Chuck Selection Points for CNC Lathe Workholding
- Air supply quality
Stable pressure, clean filtration and dry compressed air are important for pneumatic chuck performance. Water, oil mist and particles can reduce seal and valve life. - Clamping force and cutting load
KORRETTO pneumatic chucks can be selected for finishing and rough turning. The BK-SQ, BK-KQ, BK-KL, BK-SL and BK-TK tables list an allowable air pressure of 0.4–0.8 MPa. Choose the model by its clamping force and jaw stroke. Match the jaw contact, workpiece diameter, material and spindle speed to the cut. - Solid, semi-through-hole or through-hole structure
Solid chucks are used for short workpieces that do not need to enter the chuck body. Semi-through-hole chucks allow the workpiece to extend into the center hole of the chuck, but not through the spindle bore. Through-hole chucks are used when bar, tube or long workpieces must pass through the chuck and into the spindle. - Vertical or spindle-end mounting
Vertical pneumatic chucks are used on fixed or vertical workholding stations. Front-mounted through-hole pneumatic chucks are used at the lathe spindle end. - Valves, air piping and interlock
Air piping, rotary joints, valves, sensors and machine interlock should be considered before installation. This is especially important for automation and robot loading. - Comparison with hydraulic clamping
Pneumatic chucks are clean and fast to actuate. Hydraulic chucks are usually chosen for heavier turning when higher clamping force is required.
Related Workholding Solutions
| Requirement | Related solution |
|---|---|
| Higher clamping force or heavy cutting | Hydraulic Chucks |
| Simple wrench-operated setup | Manual Chucks |
| Thin-wall or easily marked external clamping | Rubber-Flex Collets / Collet Chucks / Diaphragm Chucks |
| Internal bore location | Expanding Mandrels |
| Face clamping, pipe-thread clamping or special workpieces | Application-Specific Power Chucks |
| Fixed table workholding | Machine Vises / Fixed Collet Chucks |
FAQ
What air supply does a pneumatic chuck require?
A pneumatic chuck requires stable, clean and dry compressed air. Water, oil mist and particles can affect valves, seals and clamping repeatability.
How do pneumatic chucks work?
A pneumatic chuck uses compressed air to clamp and release the workpiece. In a chuck with a built-in cylinder, the piston pushes or pulls a wedge mechanism inside the chuck body, moving the jaws or collet to clamp and release the part. On a CNC lathe, the air line is usually connected to the rear of the chuck and then to a pneumatic rotary joint mounted at the back of the spindle.
Some pneumatic chuck systems use a power chuck connected to a rotary pneumatic cylinder, which works in a similar way to a hydraulic power chuck system but uses compressed air instead of hydraulic pressure.
For stationary use on CNC milling machines, drilling machines, or fixture plates, the chuck often has a built-in cylinder. The air line is usually connected from the side, but when several chucks are mounted on one fixture plate, the air path can also be routed through the bottom of the chuck.
Can a pneumatic chuck handle interrupted heavy cutting?
Yes, with a chuck sized for the cut. KORRETTO pneumatic chucks are used for finishing, rough turning and pipe-end threading. For example, the K53 size 350 is listed at 62 kN clamping force at 0.5 MPa. For interrupted cuts, choose the chuck and jaws around the cutting load, gripping length and workpiece support. Use a hydraulic chuck when the required force or the machine's actuation system calls for it.
Can pneumatic chucks be used on CNC lathes?
Yes. Pneumatic chucks can be used on CNC lathes when the spindle interface, through-hole or solid chuck structure, air supply, speed and clamping force are properly matched.
How do I choose between a pneumatic chuck and a hydraulic chuck?
Choose a pneumatic chuck when clean air, fast clamping and reduced oil leakage risk are important. Choose a hydraulic chuck when higher clamping force, longer holding time or heavier cutting loads are required.
What is the difference between solid, semi-through-hole and through-hole pneumatic chucks?
A solid chuck has no center through-hole and is used for short parts. A semi-through-hole chuck allows the workpiece to extend into the center hole of the chuck, but not through the spindle bore. A through-hole chuck allows bar, tube or long workpieces to pass through the chuck and into the spindle.
Does air pressure fluctuation affect clamping?
On a self-locking KORRETTO pneumatic chuck, the jaws stay locked until reverse air pressure is applied to release them. A check valve retains air in the clamping circuit during a brief supply interruption. Use clean, dry air for repeatable piston and valve movement.
How are pneumatic collet chucks different from pneumatic jaw chucks?
Pneumatic jaw chucks are better for parts that need jaw clamping or a specific jaw arrangement. Pneumatic collet chucks use a collet mechanism and are often selected for bar stock, smaller diameters, fast clamping, quick release and repeat production.