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nova chuck

Dave Fritz

Dave Fritz

Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Messages
729
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Location
Montfort, Wisconsin
I'm using the thread drive in my Nova chuck to hold the block while I turn a tenon on the bottom. Much to my surprise the threaded insert comes loose within the chuck. I have to check to be sure it's tight frequently.

Is this a common problem or is there possibly something wrong with the chuck?

Thanks,

Dave F.
 
Not sure if this is the issue but--I have several brands of chucks. Keeping the screws matched up was a hassle and I often used the wrong screw with a chuck and had a time with loosening or wobbling. I finally put a colored dot, different for each brand, on each corresponding piece (screws, jaws) and the chuck. At least I don't mix up the pieces now.
 
Check Screw Alignment

I had the same problem with SuperNova2 chuck. In my case I was not lining up the wood worm screw properly before tightening the chuck.

There are 4 flats around the base of the screw. The flats should be lined up with the center of the chuck jaws. Then when you tighten the chuck, it closes on the flat parts and holds it securely.

I had the screw rotated 45 degrees so the jaws closed on the round part of the screw base. When I started turning, the screw spun in the jaws. Once I lined it up properly, it worked fine.

This might be a better description, copied from an owner's manual I found on line:
To convert to this operation, place the boss section into the centre of the chuck making sure flat shanks are aligned to the jaw slides and close jaws around it. BEFORE FINAL TIGHTENING MAKE SURE THAT THE FRONT OF THE BOSS SECTION OF THE SCREW IS SEATED BEHIND AND AGAINST THE 50mm JAWS. This will prevent any tendency for the boss section to creep forward when the screw is being used.

Here's a link to the manual, or at least a page that will take you to the manual: http://www.teknatool.com/products/Chucks/SuperNova2/Downloads/SuperNova2 Maunal full version.pdf
 
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Sorry about the link. Not sure what I did wrong or how to fix. If you do a Google search on "Nova Chuck Manual" you should find it.

Your picture looks mostly right - the screw is at the right depth in the chuck. But you might still need to change the rotation of screw compared to the chuck.

Look at the shank of the screw below where the threads stop. There are 4 flats milled into the shank 90 degrees apart around the shank. Each of those flats needs to be lined up with the center of the one of the chuck jaws. Then when you tighten the chuck, the jaw slides - the part that the chuck jaws attach to - press against the flats and keep the screw from spinning.

It's hard to tell from your picture, but it looks like the screw needs to be rotated about 1/8th of a turn clockwise for the flats to line up right with the jaw slides.

Hopefully that make sense.
 
I've found it works best on the 50 mm jaws as recommended. When I used it with the 70 mm jaws it loosened up.

When in doubt, follow directions. LOL

Dave F.
 
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