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Thread: Clarkson autolock - I like it
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16th Jul 2019, 10:29 PM #1Golden Member
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Clarkson autolock - I like it
Recently I picked up a clarkson autolock chuck for the mill. I'm a bit of a newb so didn't really know too much about them.
I got it for a song because it came for free with another item.
Over time I had collected some cutters suitable for it but of course, they remained unused.
I gave it a go last weekend and I have to say I really like it. Everything felt, well, great.
I know they're old school now and everything is ER or the like, but I have to say, it just felt solid and worked well.
I understand the CNC unfriendlyness, but anybody else still using them and like them?
Greg.
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16th Jul 2019, 10:49 PM #2Golden Member
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Hey Pumpkinate, re pics just Google "clarkson autolock r8" and choose images and you'll see it. A commodity item.
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16th Jul 2019, 11:14 PM #3Diamond Member
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I bought an NT30 autolok 10 years ago, it seemed like a cool idea. I used it for a month or two, put it back in the box, kept using ER collets.
Yours - anybodies - for the price of the postage.
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16th Jul 2019, 11:40 PM #4Golden Member
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I also picked one up (or a quality copy) fairly recently as I have a pile of threaded endmills / slot drills from various clearing sales. I also like it. None of the endmill creeping out of the collet as I have experienced with ER type.
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17th Jul 2019, 12:00 AM #5Mechanical Butcher
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I use mine as I still have an assortment of threaded end mills to suit.
They are more positively held compared to ER type, but I've not had problems anyway and concede ER system is more versatile.
I also have a set of what I think of as American type holders in all imperial sizes.
I like these too - very quick to set up and use with their simple side grubscrew holding method for the bits.
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17th Jul 2019, 03:15 AM #6
Hi Jordan,
I think what you refer to as "American" type holders, may be in fact "Weldon" cutter holders, they have a grub screw that locks on to a flat on the cutter body.Best Regards:
Baron J.
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17th Jul 2019, 05:19 AM #7Senior Member
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Maybe I'm too old to change but using ER collets is a last resort. I like to take heavy cuts with the knowledge that the cutter will finish the cut in the same place in the collet that it started. Besides, I have hundreds of new & new reground cutters to suit the Clarkson chucks.
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17th Jul 2019, 08:12 AM #8Golden Member
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I have 2 of them. One is nt30 Clarkson copy with imperial collets and stopped the cutter creepage with the chinese hm50 mill. The other is a Clarkson nt40 with imperial and metric collets. Love them. Sadly I don't have enough threaded cutters; but for any HSS cutters I try to get the threaded variety.
Ken
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17th Jul 2019, 10:15 AM #9Most Valued Member
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I have a 40 taper one, might have 2. Never use them. Not that I think they're bad, IMO they're a lot superior to the ER system for positive cutter holding. Just they're more bulky and I use ER collets for a lot of stuff anyway.
You can't put a drill bit in an autolock chuck, nor a plain shank solid carbide cutter.
As usual, horses for courses.
PDW
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17th Jul 2019, 09:50 PM #10Most Valued Member
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Just looking at the pricing of threaded HSS end mills and slot drills and I think I may need to sit down! $153 for a 20mm end mill versus $34 for a plain shank (admittedly P&N as opposed to Alcock from Machinery House). They'd need to have some major advantages to justify the price differential.
Are collets still available for the Clarkson Autolock?
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17th Jul 2019, 10:20 PM #11Senior Member
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$153 for a 20mm end mill. There's a lot of money sitting in my cupboard then & that's not half of the collection.DSCN0530.jpg
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18th Jul 2019, 12:52 AM #12Diamond Member
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Try this bloke, I have had several very satisfactory dealings with him, and if you deal direct rather than going through his fleabay shop you may miss the GST component. You will find his contact details in the graphics on his Flea bay ads. A cheaper 20mm slot drill as an example.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20mm-HSS-...IAAOSwfcVUCGkW
Good luck
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18th Jul 2019, 11:10 AM #13.
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Hi Greg,
I have Autolocks in both small and intermediate sizes to fit my two mills. My chuck of choice when it comes to cutting tee slots where cutter slippage is preferably avoided.
Hercus Slotting Head - Ram Dec 2009 022.jpg Hercus Slotting Head - Ram Guide Dec 2009 067.jpg
And here is how you can enjoy the best of both worlds, Schaublin's EX collets.
Schaublin EX Collets 001 (Large) (Large).jpg Schaublin EX Collets 008 (Large).jpg Schaublin EX Collets 018.jpg
Bob.Last edited by Anorak Bob; 18th Jul 2019 at 11:24 AM. Reason: Remembered the EX
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18th Jul 2019, 11:23 PM #14Golden Member
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Hi Bob, I zoomed in on your first picture to try and determine if there was a gap between the face of the collet nut and the body of the chuck, it looks like there is but i may be mistaken. The Clarkson instructions state that the faces must be in contact.
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19th Jul 2019, 12:22 AM #15.
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You are not mistaken Lex. It's a wonder I've never snapped a centre point!!
I just slipped up to the shed to have a look at the chuck mounted in the Hercus. With the cutter installed as per Clarkson's instructions it is possible to unscrew the cutter even after the final tightening of the nut. I don't know if this applies to the other Autolocks I have so I will have a fiddle tomorrow.
8.JPG
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