Collet chucks

[Brass_Machine]

Since I am in the middle of redoing my lathe, I have decided I need a collect chuck. I am thinking about making my own. Looking at LMS, the have an ER32 and a 5C chuck. What are the advantages and disadvantages to both? I currently do not use either for my mill...


Eric

[DICKEYBIRD]

ER has a much wider grip range.  5C has a pretty narrow range.  5C requires a collet closer, ER doesn't.  5C sticks out a lot more if your lathe  doesn't have a big enough spindle bore.  I think ER grips tighter as well.  You pays yer money & takes yer choice.

I have ER32 and love it.  If I had it to do over I'd go with ER40 even though they cost more.

Pretty big pile of chips making one from a lump...just sayin'.

[John Rudd]

Eric,

What Dickey said..........

I have both ER32 lathe (minilathe mount) and mill chuck (MT3)...only down side is the collets go to 20mm...otherwise they are great for accuracy..

[PekkaNF]

Two cents more:

1) 5C et al. has hex collets, ER does not

2) ER collets are pretty common in milling and threading applications and there are collets for trough coolant. But buy impperial size collets for impperial shank tools, life is easier that way.

I'm collecting slowly ER11/25/32 collets and chucks. It gives me best versatility with lathes/mill/indexing.

Pekka

[DICKEYBIRD]

Hey John, Maritool here in the states does (oops, "do" to you Brits)  25/32" &  7/8" ER32 collets.  I have both & it's saved me a chuck swap several times.

http://www.maritool.com/Collets-ER-Collets-ER32-Collets/c21_56_59/index.html

Also a tip for 1st time ER32 users: get yourself a 20mm or 25/32" collet.  3/4" stock (especially aluminum) many times is supplied oversize and doesn't fit a 3/4" collet.

[Rob.Wilson]

I would go for ER collets Eric 


Rob

[spuddevans]

I would go for ER collets Eric 


Rob

Me too. I have ER32 for both my mini-mill and my lathe, I wouldn't be without them 


Tim

[andyf]

I vote for ERs, too. Rather than using an MT3 collet chuck, which will block off your spindle, you might consider getting one which bolts on the spindle flange and (like a regular 3 or 4-jaw chuck) allows long stock to pass back into the spindle.

I understand from the 7x12 minilathe group that it may be somewhat cheaper to import a bolt-on collet chuck from Arc Euro Trade in the UK than to buy one from LMS, despite the shipping costs.

Andy

[Rob.Wilson]

A few shop made collet holders





Rob

[Brass_Machine]

Those look great Rob. I hope to make some myself as well. With lots of luck and the appropriate sacrifice, they will look half as good!!

Eric

[Rob.Wilson]

Hi Eric 

I would buy a collet chuck/collets for the mill and make the rest ,using the one closer and set of collets for all . With you having a bolt on nose on the lathe spindle , you could add two slots to lathe collet holder  and use the same holder flat on the mill table , great for holding work vertical for say slotting a screw ,or mount it on a RT . Just an idea.

This one I use a fair bit ,its been bolted flat on the CNC ,on the RT ,angle plate and face plate of the lathe .



Rob

[rotorhead]

Hi Eric,

I agree with the rest of the lads, ER is the way to go.

I felt the morse taper collet holders very limiting, so I made through chucks for my Colly Master at MT5, 1 for ER32 and 1 for the bigger ER50.

To make them versatile for both lathe and miller, I also made a 50Int sleeve down to MT5, to fit my Dividing head.

A few pics tell the tale.


Chris