Workholding and production tooling
Soft Jaws Configurator
Configure the exact jaws for a chuck and workpiece, see a live price and export the files without an email thread.
The problem
Why this is a configurator
Soft jaws are quoted constantly and the order is always the same shape: a chuck, a workpiece diameter, a material and a grip depth. Each one still costs an email thread, a check against the chuck table and a price built by hand. Meanwhile the machine shop waits.
Sellers
Workholding suppliers, toolmakers and machine tool accessory dealers who make or machine soft jaws to order.
Buyers
CNC machine shops that need the right blanks gripping the right diameter, today.
Live
Watch the price move as the part changes
A scripted sweep of the real configurator. Every value is computed by the same engine your customers use.
Parameter tour
What the buyer sets
Every parameter validates against the seller's own rules and stock, so an impossible order cannot leave the browser.
- 1
Chuck brand and model
From the seller's compatibility table: bolt pattern, mounting spec and jaw envelope autofill.
- 2
Jaw style
Standard set of three, pie jaws or full-grip.
- 3
Grip direction and workpiece diameter
External or internal grip; the diameter drives the machined pocket.
- 4
Grip depth and blank size
Blank dimensions default from the chuck table and stay editable within the rules.
- 5
Material and quantity
From seller stock, typically aluminium 6082, mild steel or stainless, with quantity breaks.
Exports
Manufacturing files, not just a picture
Proven formats are listed with what has been verified. Formats still in verification say so, honestly.
- STLVerified download, configuration id in the file header
- GLBVerified download with configuration metadata
- PDFSpecification and quote sheet stating the serration spec
STEP export is generated and structurally valid but stays in verification until it is confirmed dimension-perfect in independent CAD software.
Cite or abstain
The AI grounds every answer, or says it cannot
It reads only what the seller has loaded. Where a source covers the question it answers and cites; where none does, it abstains rather than guessing.
“Jaws for 85mm round bar on a Kitagawa B-208, aluminium, gripping 4mm deep”
Sets the chuck, grip direction, workpiece diameter and grip depth, with blank sizes from the chuck table.
Cited: Chuck compatibility table, Kitagawa B-208 row (example data)
“Jaws for a Bison 3405 chuck”
That chuck is not in the loaded compatibility table, so I cannot set the mounting or envelope. Ask the seller to add it.
Questions
About the Soft Jaws Configurator
- Does the configurator machine the grip pocket spec for me?
- It models the grip pocket at your workpiece diameter and states the mounting serration spec on the PDF. Machinists cut the final grip themselves; the seller supplies the mounting interface.
- What stops an impossible jaw being ordered?
- Engineering rules check the workpiece diameter against the chuck's jaw envelope, the grip depth against floor thickness and the wall thickness after pocketing per material. Invalid states explain themselves in plain language.
- Is the pricing real?
- The preset shows clearly labelled example pricing. A seller loads their own rates, formulas and quantity breaks before going live, so their customers see real prices.
- Which chucks are supported?
- Whichever the seller loads. The preset ships with an example table of typical 6, 8 and 10 inch wedge-type chucks; the AI abstains on any chuck not in the table rather than guessing.
Give your customers a price today, not next week
Start free with example data. Load your own stock, rates and rules before you go live.