As one of the "parts" I needed to make for
my ER collet chuck is a spindle nose replica for my ML7, I thought about putting it to good use.
Not having a milling machine
![:(](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/sad.gif)
(Yet!) and always having to set up and align the vertical slide and my prized original Myford dividing head to do "menial" jobs, while sacrificing rigidity, I have been toying with a "quick-index" I can mount on the cross-slide to do these jobs. The dividing head can also be VERY awkward to set up for some jobs; there sometimes just is not enough travel available to use it!!!
So this thread is about "turning" (pun intended
![Roll Eyes ::)](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/rolleyes.gif)
) a part needed for one project into a useful bit for another.
I started with this:
![](http://www.nam-engineering.com/pics/colletchuck/smaller-IMG_1251.JPG)
While the collet-chuck-in-making was still in the lathe, I screwed the nose replica into it, and turned down the unfinished end to 30mm:
![](http://www.nam-engineering.com/pics/colletchuck/smaller-IMG_1269.JPG)
Some drilling followed and then tapping M10 from the tailstock:
![](http://www.nam-engineering.com/pics/colletchuck/smaller-IMG_1270.JPG)
As the collet chuck-in-making was still mounted in my 4-jaw chuck, I used the 3-jaw to turn a base plate - the deepish dimple in the center is just to make sure that the plate will lie truly flat on the cross-slide:
![](http://www.nam-engineering.com/pics/colletchuck/smaller-IMG_1272.JPG)
After scratching around my available material, I found some HRS bar stock that should work for the column, but it was slightly too narrow, so I turned the spindle shaft down further to 22mm; Not having removed the collet chuck body from the 4-jaw, I just screwed the new spindle into it,and the whole lot back on the lathe and turned down - no run-out
![:headbang:](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/headbang.gif)
- VERY nice!
I also used a piece of 10mm square bar stock to make a mounting guide with a 5mm hole at the half-way mark and equivalent 5 mm threaded hole in the base. The guide and base were screwed together, and set square, and then I drilled and reamed 6 mm holes through both guide and base at the ends of the bar. 2 short pieces of 6mm silver steel loctited into the guide ends , and it can be removed if needed, and placed back accurately.
Here is collection of spares so far:
![](http://www.nam-engineering.com/pics/colletchuck/smaller-IMG_1274.JPG)
With some welding, boring, slitting et al, the lot will go together sort of like this:
![](http://www.nam-engineering.com/pics/colletchuck/smaller-IMG_1275.JPG)
There's still a lot to be done: a quick-index 24 hole plate, and a worm and gear drive to be used for milling curves. I will also add additional bracing to make it more rigid. Another "simple" job turned into
![:beer:](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/anim_32.gif)
Arnold