Good stuff Cliff! You know all this but ER collets need significant length of engagement to grip parallel. Much 5C work is done with emergency collets bored to match the parts or with collet stops with very short lengths of part engagement. Ask a watchmaker if he will trade his ww collets for ER style.
It should be an interesting set of videos Cliff. Yes ER's were invented as a tool holding collet system and in case some viewers don't know by Rego - Fix. In my opinion had ER's been invented first then the 5C system would be a bit less popular than it is today. 5C does win on it's versatility, speed and multitude of accessories designed to work with them. Those lever and air operated collet closers as just one example. Since I'm not doing this commercially I had to get the most for my $$$. When I bought my Bridgeport clone I obviously needed some form of collets and even though the chuck extension is much more outside the spindle bearings than R8 collets would be I chose a very well made set of ER 40s and chuck. That way I can get dual usage from them on the lathe with the addition of a shop made set tru type collet chuck. I strongly doubt any one collet system can do it all no matter how well it's designed, so I hope to have those R8's, and a good set of the 5C at some point. Even with those a set of ER 8's or 16's would be useful to cover the lower end of what the 40's can't do. Unfortunately there seems to be never an end to buying tooling.
Cliff, we both have the same mechanical pencil. :-D Looking forward to this series here, although I do not have any machine tools I am considering buying a 250x550 (ish) Chinese lathe.
Yes that can be handy for collet work, although the stop draws back a little depending on the part diameter when the collet is tightened. But obviously no good as a chuck stop/. Thanks for your input. Cliff
Hi Cliff, just saw this video czcams.com/video/xEXXoT9asME/video.html&ab_channel=StuartdeHaro @3:20 it's mentioned that you can insert "stops" which I'm guessing prevent the work piece from retracting when tightening the collet.
Hi! Yes, some stops can work with some collets in some situations. But this depends on whether the part length and properties will suit the collet stop design, size and position range available etc. Cheers Cliff
Good stuff Cliff! You know all this but ER collets need significant length of engagement to grip parallel. Much 5C work is done with emergency collets bored to match the parts or with collet stops with very short lengths of part engagement. Ask a watchmaker if he will trade his ww collets for ER style.
As always a very interesting and informative video from a Master Tool maker... Thanks for taking the time to share with us Cliff.
And thank you Douglas for taking the time to give feedback. Cheers Cliff
It should be an interesting set of videos Cliff. Yes ER's were invented as a tool holding collet system and in case some viewers don't know by Rego - Fix. In my opinion had ER's been invented first then the 5C system would be a bit less popular than it is today. 5C does win on it's versatility, speed and multitude of accessories designed to work with them. Those lever and air operated collet closers as just one example. Since I'm not doing this commercially I had to get the most for my $$$. When I bought my Bridgeport clone I obviously needed some form of collets and even though the chuck extension is much more outside the spindle bearings than R8 collets would be I chose a very well made set of ER 40s and chuck. That way I can get dual usage from them on the lathe with the addition of a shop made set tru type collet chuck.
I strongly doubt any one collet system can do it all no matter how well it's designed, so I hope to have those R8's, and a good set of the 5C at some point. Even with those a set of ER 8's or 16's would be useful to cover the lower end of what the 40's can't do. Unfortunately there seems to be never an end to buying tooling.
Thanks TP - Yes you raise some good points. Cheers Cliff
Great Video Cliff , I think the ER system may be the better way to go
Thanks Sam - Yes it is looking that way. Cliff
Cliff, we both have the same mechanical pencil. :-D Looking forward to this series here, although I do not have any machine tools I am considering buying a 250x550 (ish) Chinese lathe.
Hi Sam - Thanks for the feedback, cheers Cliff
Look into a dead length 5c collet Chuck
Hi - For the limited collet work I do, its an expensive option. Cheers Cliff
They sell 5c collet depth stops as it is internally threaded adjustable to any length, problem solved.
Yes that can be handy for collet work, although the stop draws back a little depending on the part diameter when the collet is tightened. But obviously no good as a chuck stop/. Thanks for your input. Cliff
Hi Cliff, just saw this video czcams.com/video/xEXXoT9asME/video.html&ab_channel=StuartdeHaro @3:20 it's mentioned that you can insert "stops" which I'm guessing prevent the work piece from retracting when tightening the collet.
Hi! Yes, some stops can work with some collets in some situations. But this depends on whether the part length and properties will suit the collet stop design, size and position range available etc. Cheers Cliff