Is this normal?

[Kitwn]

This link is to a video by Dan Gelbert who started from nothing and built up a whole business based on high precision machining. In this video he demonstrates a scratch-built lathe accurate to one micron, including details of the chuck. This is only one of many videos by Dan. Fascinating stuff for geeks like us.

Kit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFrVdoOhu1Q&t=40s

[A_Camera]

This link is to a video by Dan Gelbert who started from nothing and built up a whole business based on high precision machining. In this video he demonstrates a scratch-built lathe accurate to one micron, including details of the chuck. This is only one of many videos by Dan. Fascinating stuff for geeks like us.

Kit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFrVdoOhu1Q&t=40s

Thank you for the link. It's really interesting to watch, too bad it ended so suddenly. I wish there was a part two and three also...

He said it's "very easy" to make a machine like that, though I think that's overestimating most of the humanity, because even though I regard myself as very capable of doing many things, I doubt I could make one which is as good as his machine. Anyway, it was a joy to watch that. I love the idea of air bearings also and his demonstration of it. I also love how quiet that machine runs, but I suppose that's largely one benefit of the air bearings as well.

Back to the topic, yes his chuck is special, like the rest of the machine. The idea of moving pins in the chuck jaw is good, but again, requires very high precision, so in the end, I think traditional chucks are better for the "average Joe" most of us are.