chucking

Chucking is a term with multiple related meanings, all rooted in the verb chuck, meaning to throw or to grasp firmly. In everyday language, chucking can describe the act of throwing or tossing objects. In technical contexts, chucking refers to mounting, gripping, and rotating a workpiece or cutting tool in a machine tool.

In sports and colloquial speech, chucking denotes throwing a ball or object, often with emphasis on the act rather than accuracy. The phrase is common in commentary and informal talk, and may imply a hurried or careless throw, such as chucking the ball downfield or across the court.

In machining and manufacturing, chucking is the process of securing a workpiece or tool inside a chuck attached to a spindle of a lathe, drill press, or milling machine. The chuck provides gripping force and, in most cases, rotational drive. Effective chucking depends on proper jaw or collet selection, alignment, and suppression of runout.

Types of chucks include three-jaw self-centering chucks, which grip roughly in the center; four-jaw independent chucks, which allow precise centering of irregular shapes; collet chucks, offering high concentricity for small parts; magnetic chucks for ferromagnetic workpieces; and hydraulic or power chucks for high clamping force and quick release. Each type supports different materials, tolerances, and speeds, and requires specific maintenance, such as regular tightening checks and jaw alignment.

See also: lathe chuck, drill chuck, collet, and chuck (machine tool).