To use chuck or collets

[Pete RimmerParticipant @peterimmer30576]

I'm a big fan of using collets but an ER adapter on a 3mt taper is probably going to be too limber for any kind of decent milling cut. If you're doing very light work then you'll get away with it. If for instance you use it to hold a piece horizontally to mill a key slot you'll probably need to put a jack under it to stop it deflecting.

Used within their limitations, they are great.

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

Posted by Phil P on 11/01/2020 00:15:45:

Me too

Phil

PS Where in West Yorkshire are you ?

Edited By Phil P on 11/01/2020 00:21:20

Hi Phil. I am in Leeds near Garforth

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

From some of the answers on here, am I to assume that maybe a small lathe is not the best sort to use a collet chuck.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Steviegtr on 11/01/2020 19:46:57:

From some of the answers on here, am I to assume that maybe a small lathe is not the best sort to use a collet chuck.

.

That assumption might surprise many watchmakers !!

MichaelG.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

But many watchmakers lathes have the collet direct into the spindle not a collet chuck

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by JasonB on 11/01/2020 20:15:08:

But many watchmakers lathes have the collet direct into the spindle not a collet chuck

.

But Watchmakers call their draw-in collets ‘chucks’

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

Please guy's i'm getting more confused than ever. Actually the 1st few jobs I have planned are for turning bar, but would be too large for collets anyway. So stick with chuck for now.

[Phil PParticipant @philp]

Your 3 jaw chuck will be fine if you can arrange things so that all the critical diameters are turned at one go without the need to remove it from the chuck.

The problems start when you have to re chuck a part that needs to be concentric, the 3 jaw is not good for that.

A 4 jaw chuck overcomes that problem, but is trickier to use until you get the hang of it.

My dad always taught me that if you only have one chuck, make sure it is a 4 jaw.

Phil

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

There are plenty of options available for work holding in the Myford. The regular 3 jaw chuck will do many tasks and it’s inherent inaccuracies will not matter for many jobs. A job that can be fully machined without removal from the chuck will not care how accurate the chuck is. If a part is already partly machined then it is unlikely that remounting it in the three jaw will have perfect concentricity, depending on the job this may or may not be acceptable. A collet may have acceptable runout but again may not be perfect, a four jaw independent could be adjusted to near perfection but this will be a test of your perseverance. For the Myford a number of collet options are available. Myford made a collet system with fixed size collets so you will be limited to the fixed sizes, these are not currently in production so assembling a set can be difficult and expensive, the nice feature was that they are tightened and released by a holder that fits the nose thread. Another system of fixed sizes uses a drawbar to tighten but this precludes using stock longer than the collet as the drawbar occupies the through hole. A few ER options are available, one screws directly to the nose but ultimate concentricity will depend on how well it was made, a version is available to fit to a backplate and this can be adjusted to your satisfaction, yet another version is mounted on a morse taper with a drawbar which again precludes use of long bars. A griptru version of the three jaw is available and this can be adjusted to your satisfaction but will probably only repeat at that diameter. Many jobs will not need removing if the sequence of operations is planned properly but of course some jobs will need to be reset. Turning between centres should allow accurate removal and replacement and also swapping end for end. Working preferences also come into play as some prefer a chuck for everyday use and others like collets. The way things go you will probably venture into both systems and find which you get along with.

Mike

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

Posted by Phil P on 11/01/2020 20:33:50:

My dad always taught me that if you only have one chuck, make sure it is a 4 jaw.

Phil

My advice is if you get stuck with one chuck, buy another one.

Tony

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

Thanks for all the input guys. I feel like Johny 5.

[Author]

Posts