Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 45
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,102

    Default New 'Joe-Peter' collet blocks

    I may have invented a new ER collet block design. It was my original thought, but other may well have had the same thought - and I just can't find any evidence.
    So here goes:
    I decided to make some 'Stephenson' ER collet blocks. A four-sided and a hex one. to suit ER32 collets. Only I wanted the blocks larger in cross-section than the collet nut, so I could use them on the surface grinder - directly on the magnetic chuck, rather than in a vice on the magnetic chuck.
    On a mill, however, when I thought about holding the hex block in a vice, I figured that either the sides were held in the jaws or the corners (with either a flat on the bottom or a corner). So in my mind, the corners should not be sharp. Then I figured that the corner 'breaks' could be machined to be parallel to each other to facilitate locating and holding in a vice without damage. The next thing that came to mind was "why not make the machined corners the same width as the flat?". And then it struck me: with a twelve-sided (duo-decagon) block profile, you don't need a square profiled block at all!
    I ran the idea by my friend Peter, who thinks like I do and we share equipment and shed time. We decided that we'd make two - one for each of us to evaluate and use.
    So here we go with a proof of concept:

    IMG_20170625_135132 (Large).jpg
    Raw (mystery steel - but tough) stock
    IMG_20170625_234901 (Large).jpg
    Turned to size then milled into duo-decagon shape in rotary table
    IMG_20170626_230715 (Large).jpg
    Ground flats
    IMG_20170627_173452 (Large).jpg
    Cut in half to make the two blocks
    IMG_20170627_233353 (Large).jpg
    Drilled and bored to roughly 26mm,
    then threaded for the first ER32 nut thread
    IMG_20170628_000658 (Large).jpg
    Nut attached.

    What do you think so far?

    Next step is getting the second block to this state, then boring and grinding the 16 degree tapers for collets.
    Photos coming when done - maybe later in the week.....
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,444

    Default

    Nice one Joe ! I like that idea.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,102

    Default

    Thanks Baron. I'll post how they work in use when done. The proof is in the pudding......
    I should be able to machine or grind one, two, three, four, six and twelve sided objects, plus eight-sided using V-blocks. I'll try.
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    35
    Posts
    1,522

    Default

    I think they look great, my only hesitation is in making them so wide they would be difficult to keep a hold of in shallower vices. This wpuld probably be more of an issue with er40 than 32. Look forward to more progress!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
    Posts
    6,542

    Default

    Co-incidentally, you'd never guess what I made up yesterday...
    You probably don't need to grind the tapered bore. The collet chuck I made for my lathe is only MS bored out on the lathe and is coping quite well after many years.
    I did think about making mine big enough to clear the (ER40 = 63mm) nut but started getting into a 'where do you stop' loop. Heavier too. As my grinder chuck is only 4" wide, by the time the holder was located across the table I would not have much room left to grind. If I needed to do that I was going to get a solid bit of plate and hang that over the edge of the mag chuck so clamping was done off table and allow the workpiece to be over the chuck.

    Michael

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
    Posts
    6,216

    Default

    Here is a 12 sided ER40 one I made back in 2010.

    Due to the small clamping surfaces it tends to move unless squashed very tight.

    dividing chuck 003.JPG
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,102

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by .RC. View Post
    Here is a 12 sided ER40 one I made back in 2010.

    Due to the small clamping surfaces it tends to move unless squashed very tight.
    Great minds think alike! Snap.
    Thanks for the warning about clamping.
    On mine, the flats are 14mm wide. I would think that's enough 'meat', but thanks nonetheless.
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,102

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael G View Post
    Co-incidentally, you'd never guess what I made up yesterday...
    Michael
    You got to be kidding me... How's that????
    I'll see what the surface finish turns out like in the taper on this steel. Thanks for the feedback on mild steel chuck longevity.
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
    Posts
    6,542

    Default

    For the record -
    P1040150.JPG
    Flats on this one are 28mm wide.

    Michael

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,102

    Default

    Nice work Michael!
    I give you 'permission' - and I suspect R.C. would too - to mill off the six edges
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Laidley, SE Qld
    Posts
    1,038

    Default

    The big hex block gets a fair bit of use. Its a piece of 2.25" 1020 hex, the ER32 taper is turned and finger ground. The round one is made from tough mystery metal, I find it useful in the 4 jaw for cutting eccentrics.


  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Athelstone, SA 5076
    Posts
    4,255

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jhovel View Post
    IMG_20170625_234901 (Large).jpg

    What do you think so far?
    "what do I think so far" did you make me some too!?


  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,102

    Default

    Thanks. We've finished them both now, but I'm away from home and can't try it or send photos until the weekend....
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    1,628

    Default

    Are the skinny flats going to hold on a mag chuck??

    I'm predicting a small batch should be run off.
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Athelstone, SA 5076
    Posts
    4,255

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by DSEL74 View Post

    I'm predicting a small batch should be run off.
    he ignored my comment, so I'm guessing your prediction wont come true...lol

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Jo Blocks
    By YBAF in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 12th Feb 2016, 01:07 PM
  2. 1-2-3 Blocks as Parallels?
    By simonl in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 41
    Last Post: 10th May 2013, 08:15 PM
  3. Gauge blocks
    By morrisman in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 23rd Dec 2012, 11:44 AM
  4. Replies: 10
    Last Post: 6th Mar 2012, 12:28 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •