Face Driver (FD) Comprehensive Guide
A wiki-style reference covering the working principle, dimension tables, drive-pin and center-hole selection, and applications of the POINTTECH Face Driver line (FD31–FD34 and Special Type).
Overview
▲ Product appearance (POINTTECH catalog)
A Face Driver is a headstock-side driving center that locates the workpiece on its center holes while transmitting rotation through drive pins that bite into the workpiece end face. Because it does not grip the outside diameter with a chuck or collet, the entire outer diameter and both end faces of the workpiece can be machined in a single clamping. A central center point supports the workpiece concentrically for alignment, while the surrounding drive pins penetrate the face to transmit torque without slippage.
The POINTTECH Face Driver line comprises the standard FD31–FD34 models with Morse-taper (MT) shanks for mounting in the headstock spindle, optional straight shanks (ø32 / ø45), and customer-specific Special Types (e.g., CFD25000, GLC-4FD30S). Where a live center or dead center merely supports the workpiece, a face driver actively supports and drives it — that is the defining difference.
Key Features
- Accuracy guaranteed to 0.02 TIR (0.001") — live-center-class concentricity despite face driving.
- Excellent for turning machines and the gear-hobbing process.
- Only single clamping is needed for the entire cutting process — eliminating re-chucking error and idle time.
- Improves productivity in mass production while maintaining high precision.
- Able to be used at the headstock instead of a clamping chuck.
- Keeps the workpiece stable with no slippage even during heavy cuts.
- Nano-technology finished drive pins offer superior life time.
- Wide-range clamping capability across workpiece diameters.
Caution: concentricity and torque transfer are only guaranteed when the center hole is machined accurately to the standard size. An undersize or oversize center hole prevents the pins from biting the face correctly, causing run-out and slippage. Always select per the table's Max Run-Out (0.02) and match the pin rotation direction (left-hand / right-hand) to your cutting conditions.
Specifications
MODEL | MODEL NO. | MT | A | B | L | Workpiece Weight | Weight | Max Run-Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FD31 | 090803 | 3 | 42 | 30 | 145.3 | 50 | 0.8 | 0.02 |
FD31 | 090804 | 4 | 42 | 30 | 164.3 | 50 | 1.0 | 0.02 |
FD31 | 090805 | 5 | 42 | 30 | 192.3 | 50 | 1.5 | 0.02 |
FD32 | 090903 | 3 | 52 | 40 | 151.3 | 55 | 1.0 | 0.02 |
FD32 | 090904 | 4 | 52 | 40 | 170.3 | 55 | 1.2 | 0.02 |
FD32 | 090905 | 5 | 52 | 40 | 198.3 | 55 | 2.0 | 0.02 |
FD33 | 091003 | 3 | 70 | 54 | 171 | 65 | 1.2 | 0.02 |
FD33 | 091004 | 4 | 70 | 54 | 190 | 65 | 2.0 | 0.02 |
FD33 | 091005 | 5 | 70 | 54 | 218 | 65 | 2.9 | 0.02 |
FD34 | 091104 | 4 | 82 | 72 | 204.1 | 100 | 3.1 | 0.02 |
FD34 | 091105 | 5 | 82 | 72 | 232.1 | 100 | 3.9 | 0.02 |
Units: mm, kg. A is the maximum body diameter (øA), B is the end-section diameter (øB), and L is the overall length. 'Workpiece Weight' is the recommended maximum workpiece mass (kg), 'Weight' is the product's own mass, and 'Max Run-Out' is the maximum allowable run-out. The number of drive pins is 4 on the FD31, 5–6 on the FD32–FD33, and 6 on the FD34; supported workpiece diameter (work size) is ø19–ø34 for FD31, ø28–ø50 for FD32, ø40–ø72 for FD33, and ø55–ø100 for FD34.
Center Hole Size
A face driver functions correctly only when the workpiece center-hole diameter falls within the model's allowable range. The center point engages this hole to establish concentricity, so a hole that is too small (undersize) gives insufficient pin penetration, while one that is too large (oversize) breaks the concentric alignment.
NO | MODEL | MIN(ø) inch | MIN(ø) mm | MAX(ø) inch | MAX(ø) mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | FD31 | 0.08 | 2 | 0.16 | 4 |
2 | FD32 | 0.16 | 4 | 0.31 | 8 |
3 | FD33 | 0.16 | 6 | 0.47 | 12 |
4 | FD34 | 0.31 | 8 | 0.63 | 16 |
Drive Pins and Rotation Direction
Drive pins are supplied in left-hand and right-hand styles and must be selected to match spindle rotation. Per POINTTECH documentation, left-hand pins correspond to FANUC M04 (reverse) and right-hand pins to FANUC M03 (forward). The pin tips are nano-finished to bite the face cleanly with low wear for long life. The face-driver assembly consists of: end cover, spring rod, shank, SP urethane, head, Pin-At-Point, Pin-At-Pin, roller, drive pin, center point, and cover.
Carbide-Tipped Point
Because the center point that supports the workpiece and the drive pins that bite the face require high wear resistance, carbide-tipped construction is used at these contact elements. The principal wear parts are supplied as spare parts by model — Drive pin: FD31 90812 / FD32 90912 / FD33 91012 / FD34 91112; Center point: FD31 90814 / FD32 90914 / FD33 91014 / FD34 91114; Pin-At-Point: FD31 90821 / FD32 90921 / FD33 91021 / FD34 91121; Pin-At-Pin: FD31 90822 / FD32 90922 / FD33 91022 / FD34 91122; Roller: FD31 90817 / FD32 90917 / FD33 91017 / FD34 91117; Cover: FD31 90823 / FD32 90923 / FD33 91023 / FD34 91123; SP urethane: FD31 90816 / FD32 90916 / FD33 91016 / FD34 91116.
Selection Guide
- Select first by workpiece diameter: ø19–34 → FD31, ø28–50 → FD32, ø40–72 → FD33, ø55–100 → FD34.
- Check workpiece weight: do not exceed the table's Workpiece Weight (FD31/FD32 50/55 kg, FD33 65 kg, FD34 100 kg).
- Choose the MT3 / MT4 / MT5 model number to match the headstock spindle's Morse taper.
- Confirm from the drawing that the center-hole diameter falls within the model's MIN–MAX range.
- Select left-hand (M04) or right-hand (M03) pins to match spindle rotation.
- If a straight shank is needed instead of the standard MT, specify the ø32 / ø45 option (e.g., 0909ST45 = FD32 with ø45 straight shank).
- For non-standard interfaces or multi-process cells, consult the Special Types (CFD25000, GLC-4FD30S, K32A1-07-C09J00, K55A2-08-C095G10).
Applications
Face drivers are ideal for processes that must machine the full outer diameter and both end faces in a single setup. Typical uses include rough and finish turning of shafts and axle-type parts, gear hobbing of gear blanks, and the mass production of automotive, heavy-equipment, and precision rotating components where concentricity between the two faces and the OD is critical. Because no chuck is used, the entire OD is exposed at once with no re-chucking error, and torque is transmitted without slippage even in heavy cuts — securing both productivity and precision. They are frequently configured into cells together with left-/right-hand copying supports or an SD spring-loaded tailstock center.