Author Topic: 5C Collet Chuck finally in service.  (Read 3489 times)

Offline Joules

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1268
  • Country: gb
5C Collet Chuck finally in service.
« on: April 19, 2018, 05:56:00 PM »
I had this sitting around for a while.   It was going on another lathe but I ended up getting a D1-4 backplate so it could go on the big lathe.   So glad I got round to doing it, I just clocked the runout on my collet to about a tenth of a thou.  The chuck body runs out by several thou but the collet and register seem accurate.  I was expecting to need some play to get it this accuate, maybe I was just lucky.  The back plate was a bitch to machine though, countersink all holes prior to tapping and clean up with a fine stone to clear any burrs.  Now to build up my 5C collet collection, love the versatlity of emergency collets.
Honour your mentors, and pay it forward.

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: 5C Collet Chuck finally in service.
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2018, 06:02:48 PM »
The nice thing about 5c collets is you can get not only round, but also square and hexagonal ones  :thumbup:

If you are running high speed it is probably worth machining the few thou body run out off to get better balance

( no point if your work is all low spindle speeds)

Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline Joules

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1268
  • Country: gb
Re: 5C Collet Chuck finally in service.
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2018, 06:09:34 PM »
Yep, got a few square and hex collets here.  I will probably set the chuck and plate up on a bar then see how much it needs balancing.   Not expecting to run at high speed, plenty of meat on the backplate to get the static balance right without messing the chuck body.
Honour your mentors, and pay it forward.

Offline Joules

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1268
  • Country: gb
Re: 5C Collet Chuck finally in service.
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2018, 02:00:34 PM »
Having searched high and low for the chuck key, it seems to have walked.  Not a huge issue as it gives me the chance to make a NEW and IMPROVED version.   One issue with the 5C chucks is how many times you need to turn the key to close and release collets never mind swap them.  As cordless drills are dirt cheap these days and include torque clutches it seemed an ideal choice, I doubt this will be the only key I make.   A quick look in the scrap tray produced a bit of 13mm silver steel.  I made some quick measurements of how long each end needed to be then cut some clearance grooves with the parting tool.   Did I mention the key is being made in the shaper.....    Ooooooh shaper porn.....

I used the ER32 blocks I have to make the 3 and 4 sided keys.  With the collet block locked tight you can use the nut as your reference, each time it's turned.  OK an afternoons work in the shaper would be but a few minutes on the mill, but sometimes its just nice to do things this way.

Swap blocks to do the 4 sided key and just watch the shaper do it's thing.  I worked out the dimensions I need and how much to remove from each side about 0.079" and jotted that on the clapper box of the shaper so I wouldn't forget.

The final result, my Chuck Chuck Key, since each end is in a chuck.  Just break the edges with a file and test for fit, no problem.   Final picture shows the key in the drill, it works a treat and makes good use of the clutch on the drill.
Honour your mentors, and pay it forward.

Offline awemawson

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8966
  • Country: gb
  • East Sussex, UK
Re: 5C Collet Chuck finally in service.
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2018, 02:30:41 PM »
Nice job Jules - something very satisfying about shaper work - an Alba 1A was the first machine tool that I ever bought  :thumbup:

Can we have an enclosure round those MCB's in the first picture please  :lol:

Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline krv3000

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2183
  • Country: gb
Re: 5C Collet Chuck finally in service.
« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2018, 02:48:45 PM »
a job well dun  :ddb: