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four-jaw chuck is used for holding irregular and non-cylindrical workpieces that don't fit well in a three-jaw chuck. It's also ideal for machining off-center or when precise centering is needed, as each jaw can be adjusted independently.
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Irregular or Non-Cylindrical Workpieces: Unlike a 3-jaw chuck that self-centers and is ideal for round stock, a 4-jaw chuck has independently adjustable jaws that allow you to securely grip square, rectangular, or irregularly shaped parts.
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Off-Center or Eccentric Turning: The ability to adjust each jaw independently makes the 4-jaw chuck suitable for eccentric turning operations, such as turning crankshafts or offset bushings, where the workpiece needs to be intentionally held off-center.
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Higher Precision Requirements: Because each jaw can be finely adjusted, the 4-jaw chuck offers improved accuracy and better control over centering compared to the 3-jaw chuck, which is useful for projects demanding utmost precision.
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Heavy or Large Workpieces: The four jaws provide a more secure and evenly distributed grip, which is beneficial when machining larger or heavier parts that require more stability.
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Holding Workpieces Internally: A 4-jaw chuck can also grip workpieces from the inside diameter, which is not possible with a 3-jaw chuck.
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Wood Bowl Turning: In woodworking, a four-jaw bowl chuck is preferred for turning bowls because it provides strong, stable, and secure holding, especially when using dovetail jaws to grip the tenon on the bowl base.
