Patent ID: 8297893

Claim:
A method of operating an actuator that is used to clamp and release a chuck having a rod that can be axially displaced in a machine spindle for actuating a clamping head that cooperates with jaws, the method comprising the steps of: for clamping, exerting a force in an axial clamping direction on the rod by means of the actuator until the axial position of the rod is fixed relative to the machine spindle and the jaws grip a tool or workpiece and the jaws and clamping head are axially locked in the spindle; thereafter suspending application of the force in the clamping direction by the actuator on the rod, thereafter relatively displacing the rod and by the actuator in a release direction that is opposite the clamping direction until the rod is out of axial engagement with and rotationally decoupled from the actuator; and while the rod is out of axial engagement with the actuator, rotating the chuck.