Precision collets, any one with experience on these...

Newton

Newton

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Well, I have been reading and reading and reading about collets and endmils now for to long and I need to make a decision on which to go for and order.

Here is a list of some of the dealers I have looked at in respect of collets:

www.precisebits.com
Has experience with pool cue manufacturing but their Er25 collets costs $42 with T.I.R of 0.0002"

www.maritool.com
Do not know anything about them. ER25 collet with T.I.R of 0.0003" costs $12!

http://www.usshoptools.com/
Do not know anything about them. Has no email POC just phone but has the best prices I have found until now. I guess a phone call is the only way to get in contact with them.
ER25 collet with T.I.R of 0.0002" or better (ultra precision) costs $15

What do you use in you're mill? Do I shoot birds with a cannon now?

Any one's view would be appreciated.

N
 
Don't know any of them.....

....just my $.03 but Chris Hightower is a fellow you can trust and he posts here, Jimmy Sickles from Unique proucts also is a great asset for us here, Lee at Brianna also carrys this kinda stuff as well and, Atlas Billiards Supply is another good option too :)
 
Where are you planning on using these collets? What type of mill (specifically size and purpose). If it is a little cnc inlay mill, you might want a smaller collet series such as ER 16. If it is a bridgeport size mill, an ER40 series might be better. I'm confused if you are designing some sort of spindle to work with ER collets or your mill already has an ER25 series spindle and you are just looking for additional collets.

The ER series of collets are designed to accurately grip within a small range of sizes for each collet (1mm range per collet). This is in contrast to the more common 5C (lathe) and R8 (mill) collets that are designed to only grip one precise size.

The reason I ask where you are planning on using these is because there are different ranges of body diameters for these types of collets.

The common sizes are ER16, ER20, ER25, ER32, ER40, ER50. Each series accepts a large range of sizes. See this link below on its first page for the specific sizes.

http://www.takayama-shoji.co.jp/rego/pdf/13_technical_information.pdf
 
I think either of the cheaper ER25 collets look fine. I typically use the ETM brand from MSC which are $28 each, but those look fine.

I have a Multicam CNC router with an 18K Columbo spindle which accepts ER25 collets. My manual mill uses R8 collets but I also have a small 3/4" collet extender that uses ER16 collets. The only need I have for this is when i need to get into a tight area with a small diameter endmill or drill.

$42 each seems expensive, but don't over think the others. $12-15 each is a great price. Most likely if these are for cuemaking the only size you will need is 1/8" or 3-4mm because all the small/micro endmills have 1/8" shanks.

Good luck,

Troy
 
Thank's all.

I do have a industrial machine with a Italian HSD spindle which uses a ER25 collet system http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=96970
so I know my way around the machine.

The general plan for the machine was to use it for all types of work, where pool cue's is one thing (tapering and inlay) but also other work like sine making and cutting out parts for other machinery would be performed. So I would be looking for a kit with all the different collets so I'm not stuck if I would like to perform drill operations (with different drill sizes).

Lee have directed me to Precisebits which seems to have excellent knowledge in our range of work, but I'm not sure if I'm prepared to pay $42/each when I need 10-15 pcs.

Unique has their own setups for their pool cue machines which makes me feel that I'm most likely not the customer which would be prioritized the highest, but I might be mistaking.

I have invested in every of the helping/guidance from Chris and I have been studying all of them, a lot. However Chris has at the moment gone for his own manual inlay machine with a Kress -look a like router so I have therefor not contacted him in this respect.
EDIT: I have been looking at his DeLux and is for sure on my wish list. The only thing holding me back is the S&H over here and the 110V which all in all adds up to be close to a Chinese lathe, but then without the big bore chuck and the length of the bed to support a cue.. I'm still looking...

I guess I call the $15-guys first and take it from there. It seems like these could be a manufacturer which again sells to end stores (I guess like Precicebits).

Having invested in a machine it's feels a little wrong to have collets which might degrade the accuracy of the system, so I would look for 0.0002-0.0003" T.I.R collets just to be safe if no one else means this is a waist.

Thanks

N
 
Last edited:
Which collet?

Hi Newton,

IMO You can't spend to much on accuracy. It saves time, less headaches, and most of all more rewarding results!!
It looks like two of the company's are offering the same runout tolerances, except that "shoptools" says .0002" or better. I would recommend buying a collet from both precise, shoptools, then measure the runout yourself directly in your spindle. Then you'll know without question.

Dennis

PS; Nice machine!!
 
i think the NSK collet chucks are accurate to 1 micron,i know the spindles are so i would guess the collets are too.i was told they can be used on other spindles,but i really don't know that for sure.they are not cheap though.i think i paid $65 for the 1/4".
 
The reason for searching for other options on the web has been related to the local guys charge on these products. I have locally a supplier of collars which has a lot of nice Italian precision stuff, but the charge for instance $110 for a collet from D'Andrea which is far to much in my eyes :(

But $65 is for sure a fair bit as well..

I would drop some words on www.cnczone.com as well and see if there is anyone with + or - for one or the other..

N
 
The reason for searching for other options on the web has been related to the local guys charge on these products. I have locally a supplier of collars which has a lot of nice Italian precision stuff, but the charge for instance $110 for a collet from D'Andrea which is far to much in my eyes
Click to expand...


that is pretty rough but as Dennis said,"you can't spend too much on accuracy."

i think the NSK collets are actually more than that,but i have found a place that gives 25-30% off NSK stuff.if you find they will work on your machine PM me and i will give you the info on them.
 
Collets

In the 20 years I have been machine I have never found a Collet I did not have to tweak.
Buy the cheap ones and buy a good .0001 indicator and dial your tools in.
Dial in the high spots of your end mill or drill.
Just tap them lightly with a plastic hammer and do it on a tool setter and not in the machine if possible.

Now this is for extreme accuracy make barring careers for Jet engines and hold .0005true position on a Pratt and Whitney jig bore .SO YOU MAY NOT NEED TO GO THIS FAR BUT IT WILL MAKE TOOLS LAST LONGER BECOUSE THEY ARE CUTTING WITH EVERY FLUTE EQUALY.

JUST MY 2CENTS
 
Last edited:
US Shoptools collets received

I have received the mm kit and the few inches collets I ordered. They look pretty good where the Inches ones is labeled "SYIC Techniks" where the mm kit has only "UP" labeled (Ultra Precision).

The only detail which was not 100% was the wooden box for the whole kit, which in practical terms is a pice of wood with some drilled holes. No lid no nothing and I could have made the same for $0.01.

I have also bought a T.I.R indicator and some practical tests would be done tonight.

N
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top