Unusual drill chuck

[Tractor manParticipant @tractorman]

[Tractor manParticipant @tractorman]

Hi all. Here is another unusual item for comment. It's a drill chuck mounted on an Arbor with a sighting scope built into the shank.

Viewing down the eyepiece gives a magnified view through the centre of the chuck jaws so that the work piece can be placed accurately beneath the chuck. Stick in a drill bit and happy days!

Not sure if it is meant to be static as in a lathe tailstock or if it is meant to rotate. It only has a drive tang not a drawbar thread. But the optical part is all smooth and the setting screws are recessed so it could be used in a drill press.

[Alexander Smith 1Participant @alexandersmith1]

Picked up one of these years ago and took it along to the club(Stockport) to find out what it was. Iwas told it's a jig borer chuck- centre the cross hairs on your mark then put in a centre drill and spot it. It must have been 20 years ago and I was told then that it would have cost £500-600 so don't drop it! Sandy

[mickParticipant @mick65121]

Its a toolmaker's optical chuck, only used one once and that was at college in the 60's

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

 A nicely illustrated 'strip-down and measure' of that chuck assemblage might make a good article for MEW.

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 05/01/2018 17:35:03

[Tractor manParticipant @tractorman]

I cleaned the chuck and optics without needing to strip it. But it’s turned out to be an expensive bargain as I’ve just bought a new pillar drill with 3morse quill to use it in.
Excel machine tools heavy duty floor standing unit.
Now to find some room for it in the shop.

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

I have one similar, on an MT2 arbour. Mine appears to also have a focussing control. I haven't used it, and am unlikely to, as it needs vision a bit closer to 20/20 than I possess nowadays.

rgds

Bill

[Tractor manParticipant @tractorman]

Yes Jack there is a focussing wheel on mine. It just brings the cross hairs into sharp focus for you, then you move the work/chuck back and forth to focus on the work surface. It’s a smart piece of kit as with the other types of centre scope you have to change from scope to tool before getting to work, allowing possible errors to creep in. With this just pop the drill bit in and away you go.

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