Here's when you don't want to be in the black

Tubular goods are seemingly simple but they are among crucial components in the oil and gas industry. Any bend or other inconsistency in the tube will result in runout that leads to the machining of unacceptable black threads that produce leaky connections. LVE air actuated chucks from RoÄhm Products of America feature three jaws at the chuck face as well as three center-positioning arms. Behind the spindle, another set of jaws provide additional support and clamping force and helps to center long sections of pipe. The centering and clamping process takes place in about 10 seconds, compared with the minutes and more consumed in manually shimming and indicating the pipe. Automatic operation eliminates the possibility of operator injury or error. The pneumatic system is separate from the machine's hydraulic system and can easily be retrofitted to existing machines.