Thread: ER 32 Collet Block

Gday Guys,
As most ebay purchases sometimes we buy in good faith that maybe it won't be to bad.
I purchased an ER32 collet hex block and lets say it needs some attention.

I thought it would be great for holding round stock that could be transferred from lathe to mill and good for stock that is between size for C5 collets.

Im no master in measurements however i'm thinking its out in the range of around 0.1mm maybe more? concentricity with my initial measurements.
the sides are milled and not flat neither is it hardened. Even came with burrs which i rubbed the stone over.
Does anyone want a learning project for the surface grinder and surface plate/measurement. I am happy to pay an agreed amount and postage obviously its only a $30 block however can see its merits were its useful.

Many Thanks Max

Originally Posted by Maxi77

As most ebay purchases sometimes we buy in good faith that maybe it won't be to bad ..... its only a $30 block

I have pretty good faith that you got the expected outcome for $30

lol, very true. Nothing a massage with a surface grinder can't fix. If I would have known it wasn't surface ground I wouldn't have bothered. i should have looked at the ebay photos closer.
having said that it was worth the gamble. Who hasn't been stung by the china specials?

How did you test the runout?

Hi Bob, rather crude but gave me an idea. I tested it in my lathe with known runout of my 3 jaw chuck. Was rudimentary but gave me an idea. I ran a test indicator on the inner taper where the collet sits. Also the sides of the block are not equal in dimension nor flat as it rocked slight on my cast iron surface plate.

Looks like a cheap knock off of the Stevenson's ER32 Collet Blocks

https://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catal...-Collet-Blocks
or can get them from Ausee
https://www.ausee.com.au/shop/search...s+collet+block

I have the ER40 ones and on the hex the corners are flattened, this is fairly important as when you clamp it in the mill vice, contrary to the metal tips and tricks video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzWolYW_MKc
You should still be clamping on the flats not the points, with the points flattened gives you a more positive stop.

These are awesome for doing quick square or hex's on the mill, the collet nut overhangs the block so you can also use it as a work stop when rotating in the vice. A nice touch is that the space on the flats is the same on square and hex meaning when you are using one you can use the other in the vice on the other side so your not side clamping in the vice.

...should have bought one of these: unique Joe Collet Block for ER32 collets-Patent Pending2017_Machine Tool Access._M&G Productions
Gives you the benefit of both 6 and 4 cornered blocks and they are made accurately - even come with a ball bearing nut....

...also available in ER40 size: unique Joe Collet Block for ER40 collets-Patent Pending2017_Machine Tool Access._M&G Productions ...