What engine lathe workholding device uses split, tapered sleeves to grip a workpiece?

What engine lathe workholding device uses split, tapered sleeves to grip a workpiece?

• A. Collet
• B. Chuck
• C. Vise
• D. Mandrel

Answer: (A)

Split, tapered sleeves grip a workpiece by closing evenly around it as the sleeve is drawn into the taper. This mechanism, called a collet, provides a tight, concentric grip with very high precision and repeatability—ideal for small to medium parts where runout must be minimized. Different collet sizes let you clamp a range of diameters using the same setup, and a drawbar or nut mechanism pulls the tapered interior into the spindle or collet chuck to squeeze the workpiece securely. By contrast, a chuck grips from the outside with jaws and can introduce more runout; a vise clamps work on the machine table rather than in the spindle; a mandrel is mainly used to support or finish a piece rather than to grip it with a split, tapered sleeve.

Split, tapered sleeves grip a workpiece by closing evenly around it as the sleeve is drawn into the taper. This mechanism, called a collet, provides a tight, concentric grip with very high precision and repeatability—ideal for small to medium parts where runout must be minimized. Different collet sizes let you clamp a range of diameters using the same setup, and a drawbar or nut mechanism pulls the tapered interior into the spindle or collet chuck to squeeze the workpiece securely. By contrast, a chuck grips from the outside with jaws and can introduce more runout; a vise clamps work on the machine table rather than in the spindle; a mandrel is mainly used to support or finish a piece rather than to grip it with a split, tapered sleeve.