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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    38

    Default MT3 Collets for Hercus O Mill?

    Hi All,

    I am looking into a collect / chuck setup for the vertical head and was going to go with a ER25 MT3 and make my own drawbar as I have seen on one of these posts.

    I have since came across these on the Hare and Forbes website and they looked like a good or even better idea. Unless I am understanding it all wrong... Which could very well be the case.

    Does this go directly into the morse taper on the vertical head and remove the need for a collect chuck? As it is 1/2" thread I could also use the same drawbar that came with the fly cutter??

    I assume it would also increase the Z axis? If so that would be great as I dont have the standard Hercus vice, the one that come with my mill is larger and reduces the Z height even more.


    I would appreciate any input if I am on the wrong track.



    https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/C135

    collet2.jpg

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    Yes, they go straight in. Looks to be a good idea, provided that you only want to use milling cutters with either 6, 10, 12, or 16mm shanks on them.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Cairns, Q
    Posts
    666

    Default

    I have a set of the 3MT collets in the common metric tool shank sizes, and another in the common Imperial tool shank sizes, which I bought in the early nineties when I bought my mill (not a Hercus, but I think the same comments apply). I have since switched to ER32 collets, because they are more versatile, and can be used more conveniently for work holding in the lathe. However, I would not part with the MT3 collets, because their outstanding advantage in the mill is that there is virtually no lost headroom when they are used: the collet is almost completely swallowed in the spindle, saving maybe 40 or 50 mm from when a collet chuck is fitted.

    The 3MT collets can also be used for holding short workpieces in the lathe, but they are of limited value for this purpose since they are size specific, unlike the ER collets where each collet can cover a range of workpiece diameters, and workpiece length is limited by the presence of the draw bar. I notice H & F's 3MT collets have gone down $11 in price since I bought mine.

    The ER collets are more convenient to use with their front mounted tightening nut for both tool changing in the mill and work holding in the lathe, but in the mill they will cost you headroom which may be critical for some jobs. A further advantage of the ER collets for work holding in a lathe is that if they are mounted in a spindle nose chuck which does not require a drawbar long workpieces can be accommodated because they can pass through the lathe's hollow spindle.

    Frank.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    38

    Default

    Thanks Kryn and Frank

    Appreciate the info. I didnt foresee some of those negative although they are obvious now...

    Also didnt even think of using it in the lathe.

    I think at this stage I will go with a couple of sizes and the matching end mill to get me started.

    See how I go from there....

    At this stage I dont have a specific need for the Mill, just love making and fixing stuff, so I assume I will collect more bits for it along the way!!

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