The pads on your 1995 Mori SL35M collet chuck are worn or missing, you need a set for 1-1/2 in. bar stock, and no catalog lists them under the chuck maker you assumed. Searching by that name gets you nowhere because the part is sold under other names.
Skip the fixes that waste time
- Searching by the assumed chuck maker (Somma Balas). The chuck brand is a belief, not a confirmed fact. Pads in this style are sold by the pad maker, not the machine builder. Drop this search.
- Buying any Martin-style pad that is the right bar size. Several candidates have the jaw-retaining screw in the wrong place for this chuck. Bar size matches; the mounting does not.
- Assuming the small-Martin pattern applies. Most smaller Martin pads are 3-segment. Count the segments on your chuck before you trust any listing photo or catalog page.
- Paying the first quote. One quoted price for a new set was around $650. Cross-reference first, then compare against used and custom options.
- Waiting on a current-production catalog listing. At least one supplier contacted reported they no longer make this pad. Treat new-stock availability as unlikely and plan for used or made-to-print stock.
Use the names these pads are actually sold under
These are large Martin-style collet pads. The same part carries different names depending on who you ask, and that is why generic searches fail.
| Name or number | Who uses it | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Martin pads (large size) | General shop usage | Search term for used stock |
| Warner Swasey collet pads | Older shop and used-market usage | Used-market searches (auction and surplus listings) |
M-40 Martin Pads |
Hardinge | Part-number inquiry to the manufacturer |
1017-200-1500 |
Superior Cincinnati | Part-number inquiry to the manufacturer |
The 1500 at the end of the Superior Cincinnati number probably encodes the 1.500 in. bar size. Confirm that with the manufacturer before you rely on it; do not assume the suffix scheme.
Measure the chuck before you send a single inquiry
Every supplier will ask for the same data. Collect it once, with photos, so you get a firm yes or no on the first contact.
- Lock out the machine and remove the bar stock. Clean the chuck face and the pad seats.
- Count the pad segments (3-segment or another count) and record the pad width and thickness.
- Measure the position of the screw that retains the pad or jaw in the chuck. Record its distance from the pad edge and from the chuck centerline. This dimension is where existing candidates failed on this machine.
- Record the screw thread and head style from the screw itself, not from a catalog.
- Photograph the pad from the front, back, and side, with a scale in frame. Include the chuck body and any part or model stamping.
- Record the bar size (1-1/2 in.) and the bar shape, since the pad bore must match round, hex, or square stock.
- Pull the chuck nameplate details if any exist. This settles the chuck maker question with data instead of a guess.
Work the sourcing path in this order
-
Send your measurements to Hardinge and Superior Cincinnati. Quote them
M-40and1017-200-1500respectively, along with your screw-location dimension. Ask whether a current-production pad exists and whether the retaining screw location matches your chuck. - Contact Dillon Manufacturing. They are a collet-and-chuck supplier and a candidate for pads that other sources no longer stock. Send the same photo and dimension package.
- Search used-market listings under "Warner Swasey collet pads" and "Martin pads" with the size in the search. Reject any listing without a photo of the screw position.
- Get a made-to-print quote if no stock pad matches. A machine shop can copy a good pad, and the screw position on your chuck is the drawing dimension that must be held.
Compare each quote against the roughly $650 price you have already seen for a new set, including shipping and any boring-to-size charge.
Confirm fit, runout, and grip before you run parts
- Install the pads with the retaining screws fully seated. If the screw does not line up, stop. Do not enlarge or re-drill holes in the chuck body.
- Close the chuck on 1-1/2 in. bar without any cutting load. Check that all segments contact the bar evenly and that no segment bottoms out before the others.
- Indicate the bar at the chuck face and again at the far end of the stickout. Record the runout and compare it to the tolerance your part print requires.
- Run a light test cut and re-check for slip, chatter, or witness marks on the bar.
- Set chuck clamping pressure per the chuck maker's data for your setup. If you cannot identify the chuck maker, do not raise pressure to compensate for a loose grip; fix the pad fit instead.
Recognize the mismatch symptoms early
| Symptom on the machine | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Retaining screw hole does not line up | Wrong pad style or wrong screw position for this chuck |
| Bar grips on one segment only | Wrong segment count or a pad bored to the wrong size |
| Bar spins or slips under cut | Worn pad bore, wrong bore for the bar shape, or pad not seated |
| High runout at bar end | Dirt under the pads, mixed-condition pads, or uneven pad wear |
Replace pads as a matched set. Mixing new and worn pads produces the uneven contact that shows up as runout.
FAQ
How do I identify collet pads with no manufacturer markings?
Search them as large Martin-style or Warner Swasey collet pads, then verify by measuring segment count, retaining screw position, and bar size. Send photos and dimensions to Hardinge and Superior Cincinnati for a cross-reference.
How do I find the part number for Martin collet pads for 1-1/2 in. bar?
Hardinge lists the pads as M-40 Martin Pads and Superior Cincinnati lists them as 1017-200-1500. Confirm with each manufacturer that the number matches your bar size and screw location before ordering.
How do I check that a replacement pad will fit my chuck?
Compare the retaining screw position, segment count, and pad seat dimensions against the pad you are replacing. A pad with the right bar size but a different screw location does not fit.
How do I get a set of pads that is cheaper than a new set?
Search used listings under Warner Swasey and Martin pad names, contact Dillon Manufacturing, and request a made-to-print quote from a machine shop. Require a photo of the screw position on any used set.
How do I verify the pads are seated correctly on my Mori SL35M?
Close the chuck on 1-1/2 in. bar without cutting load, confirm even contact on every segment, and indicate the bar at the chuck face and at the stickout end. Compare the runout to your part tolerance before production.
Stop and escalate if you cannot confirm the chuck maker, if no supplier can match the screw position, or if pads need bore or seat modification. Send your measurements and photos to Hardinge, Superior Cincinnati, or the chuck maker's official support, and to Mori Seiki service for any machine-side question, before you run production.