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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Dural NSW
    Age
    82
    Posts
    1,203

    Default Hercus 260 lathe Collets & Adaptors

    I have been reading about "Anorak Bobs" experiences with Tool Post grinding set ups.
    Today I drove out an hour or so & visited "Pipeclay" & we were talking on a similiar subject & his work in machining adaptors to take E.R Collets.
    The search for increasing accuracy is something we all seem to seek.
    I like collets for their repeatable accuracy, & in particular for holding small parts for second operation work.
    Some years back I purchased a Burnerd Collet set (see photo) & found it very accurate, except for its limitation in not being able to hold short workpieces, I think a rule of thumb with that type of collet was workpieces no shorter than 3 times the workpiece diameter.
    This was a limiting factor,in its uses. When I purchased the 260 Hercus lathe from Hercus S.Aust 20 yrs back I did include with it some 4C collets & a 4C headstock spindle adaptor.These worked fine.
    Recently on Ebay I got hold of a Hercus Indexing head as shown in the photo.A great little gadget........But then I needed more 3C collets. One cannot have enough tools.
    So I purchased a whole bunch of them from "Tools4Cheap" in the USA as shown in the photos. At the same time purchasing a 4 morse to 3C collet adaptor from Hercus S. Aust.
    The first one I got was not accurate enough, so they swapped another to me. It was a bit better but not totally concentric in the front tapered section that supports the collet.
    The rear end of the adaptor with its key (The parallel portion) was concentric, so I decided to set an Air Die Grinder with a mounted point up in the lathe toolpost clamped by a toolmakers clamp.
    The compound slide was set to the required angle & the mounted grinding point dressed by a single point diamond.
    It took a short time to grind out the error in the hardened adaptor & just let it spark out.(There were some slight vibration marks but they were not measurable after grinding)
    Now it is truly concentric, & to ensure that the adaptor goes back in the same location I have marked it with a Texta pen accordingly (See photo)
    A half thou dial indicator hardly shows any movement in the needle.So I would say it is wthin tenths of a thou.
    Since getting all of the 3C collets I find them very useful for a range of work long or short & the gripping power is excellent.At high speed there is minimal vibration, unlike larger chucks, & they are safer to work with.
    I thought this may be of interest,
    regards
    Bruce
    Abratool

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default

    Thank you Bruce.

    It is of interest to me.

    Bob.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    near Warragul, Victoria
    Posts
    3,718

    Default Agree

    Quote Originally Posted by Anorak Bob View Post
    Thank you Bruce.

    It is of interest to me.

    Bob.
    Me too . That dividing head fixture is a corker . It mounts on the milling attachment ??? Am I correct ?

    Mike

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Dural NSW
    Age
    82
    Posts
    1,203

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by morrisman View Post
    Me too . That dividing head fixture is a corker . It mounts on the milling attachment ??? Am I correct ?

    Mike
    Yes Mike,it mounts on the Hercus Milling attachment (with the vice removed).
    It is designed to fit neatly into a tee slot in the milling fixture, & is clamped in position by 2 tee studs & nuts.
    It uses 3C collets to hold the workpiece & is very handy for a quick set up to cut small hexagons, squares etc as indexed by the rear indexing plate. I find it useful for milling accurate screwdriver slots, & have just made a slotted piece to line up the fixture to ensure the slot is central to the Outside Dia of the item being milled.
    My next project is to make a saddle stop for the lathe so that the milling head can be moved along the lathe bed accurately,for successive cuts when milling other shapes hexagons or whatever.
    This indexing head was an extra, one could buy from Hercus. I mentioned I got it off E Bay. I noticed that Australian Metalworking Hobbyist in Victoria has one for sale, but I am not sure if it is complete. If not bits & pieces can be made or purchased.
    Thanks for your follow up.
    My interest in all tooling & machining has been regenerated since joining this forum.
    I never cease to be amazed at the knowledge that is out there, & comes to the surface through the forum.
    regards
    Bruce

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