Hobbymat

[john holmes 8Participant @johnholmes8]

I would like to know if I can fit morse tapers to my Hobbymat  milling machine, if so how do I do it ?( I don’t have any collets ) if not where can I purchase collets ?

[john holmes 8Participant @johnholmes8]

[joegibParticipant @joegib]

Well, it depends on what version of the milling head you have. The earlier geared-head version (BFE65) came with a piddling MT1 spindle hole plus an MT1 endmill holder that could be secured via a 6mm drawbar. I believe a later version of the milling head (belt drive?) came with an MT2 taper spindle.

So, first you need to establish what MT your version has. Using calipers or a rule, can you measure roughly what size the spindle hole is where it meets the spindle flange? Roughly will do but measure the size at the lip of the actual tapered hole, not the edge of the bevel. Report back the measurement and we’ll tell you what MT it is.

 

Given the age of these machines, you’ll have trouble getting hold of the maker’s endmill or collet holders now. Nowadays it makes more sense to use ER series collets/holders for these small machines — these are pretty much a ‘standard’ in Europe and elsewhere (except the US!). The maker’s recommended milling maximum diameter is 16mm so a set of ER25 collets would be suitable (range 1.5 — 16mm). Assuming your spindle is MT1 an ER collet chuck can be had for less than £20 — see here, for instance:

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ER25-MT1-MK1-M6-COLLET-CHUCK-CNC-MILLING-LATHE-A65-/110583758766?pt=BI_Tool_Work_Holding&hash=item19bf4e3fae 

 

 

But don’t order anything till you’ve reported back!

 

Joe

[john holmes 8Participant @johnholmes8]

Hi thank you for your reply,by my measurements the size of the hole is 18mm, could I be right ?

[john holmes 8Participant @johnholmes8]

Hi thank you for your reply,by my measurements the size of the hole is 18mm, could I be right ?

[joegibParticipant @joegib]

Hi John,
 
I measured my spindle hole and it came out at 11.5-12mm at the junction of hole and flange — which corresponds to MT1. If yours measures 18mm that suggests you have an MT2 spindle — lucky you! I’d feel more comfortable if you had a known MT2 shaft, e.g. an MT2 lathe centre, drill chuck or drill bit, to test the matter more positively. I assume you don’t have such a device or you wouldn’t have asked in the first place! Do you have a friend with an MT2 lathe headstock or tailstock who can lend you a centre to check the point? All that said, if you’re confident your measurement is correct, I’d say there’s a 95% likelihood you have an MT2 spindle. I’ve never heard of a variant of these machines other than MT1 or MT2.
 
In that case, the ER25 chuck I referred you to above is NOT correct. Clearly, you’ll require an  MT2 variant of the type. However, there’s another factor you’ll need to resolve first — what kind of drawbar thread there should be on the tail end of the chuck. That’ll depend on the size of the through-hole running through your spindle. My machine only has a 6mm through-hole but it’s likely that the manufacturer made more generous provision for their MT2 machines.
 
You can check this by accessing the top of the spindle. On top of the milling head you’ll see a sort of ‘top-hat’-like fitting and on top of that there’s a large hex nut. Remove the nut and the top end of the spindle will be visible. Assuming you have a set of metric drills, start poking drills of appropriate size down the hole until you find the largest one that will enter freely and not bind in the hole. That will be your maximum drawbar size.
 
Commonly, a metric spec ER25 MT2 chuck has a 10mm drawbar thread so, hopefully your spindle through-hole will be that size or greater. Come back to us if you find something different when checking this feature.

Joe
 
 
 

 

[john holmes 8Participant @johnholmes8]

Hi I tried what you said about the drills and the largest I could get in was 6.8mm, does this help me ?

 

John.

[joegibParticipant @joegib]

Hi John,
 
That’s a real poser because the only MT2 ER25 collet chucks I’m aware of come with 3/8″ (Imperial)  or 10mm (metric) drawbar threads but your spindle won’t accommodate drawbars of that size. Needless to say, you should NOT contemplate running an MT collet chuck/endmill holder/boring head without using a drawbar.
 
Before making any suggestions, can I get some idea about your situation, please.
 
1. Are you in the UK?
2. Is your Hobbymat mill the geared-head or belt-driven type?
3. What kind of lathe do you have?
4. How much machining experience do you have?
5. If you’re inexperienced, do you an experience friend locally that can help you with machining?

6. Finally, can you just confirm that the 18mm caliper measurement you made was between the points shown in the rough drawing here:

 

MT_Bore

 

No offence intended — I just find it hard to believe that the German makers of this machine would have upgraded the the spindle to MT2 without increasing the drawbar size to match!
 
Joe

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

John, If the MT that you get has a 10mm/ 3/8″ thread in it, make a short piece of threadedrod with a 6mm thread through its length. Now locktite the threaded piece in the MT arbor, then make a suitable draw bar. Ian S C

[john holmes 8Participant @johnholmes8]

Hi thanks for the replies, I have had a good look at my machine  and I can fit a MT1 in the bore, also I took a good look at the top of the spindle and found  the shape I show on diagram a 9/32 drill will fit the hole, am I getting nearer

to my goal ?

[Roger WoollettParticipant @rogerwoollett53105]

I have a Hobbymat mill with an MT1 taper.

I got an ER20 collet set and MT1 collet chuck from Gloster Tooling via eBay. You will need to make a drawer bar but that is not difficult.

ER20 collets go up to 13mm but I prefer to use cutters of 10mm or smaller diameter – I do not think the mill is rigid enough for anything bigger.

 

 

[john holmes 8Participant @johnholmes8]

Hi, I would like to thank all who helped me with my problem with my HobbyMat, I have now  got it sorted, many thanks again.

 

John.

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