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  1. #1
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    Default Has anyone ever tried NT30 spring collets?

    I'm not sure how long they have been around for (the last time I searched for NT30 a month or so ago they never came up) but I've never seen or heard of them.
    I've just noticed tonight on a search of AliExpress for NT30 that they now have NT30 spring collets, similar to R8 collets that have been around for years.

    Has anyone have experience with them, Pipeclay, RayG maybe? as they the same mill and is up on most things.

    Wondering if there any better than ER collets as there around the same price, but come apart every time you change tools which would be a pain.
    Maybe I'm out of touch with what's around today. Other than the past 12 months I haven't been machining for 5 or so years years with life comiments.

    I have around 40 ER series collet chuck's of all different sizes so don't really need anymore, but am curious to try one.

    Dave J

    Dave J
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  2. #2
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    Jul 2016
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    Default

    They definitely aren't a new idea, internal nt30 but more so 40 taper collets were very popular in deckels and other euro mills.

    The pros:
    Save you a lot of Z height. This is a huge upside.

    Potentially lower runout

    The cons.
    If they spin, it's your master taper that gets borked. This can be especially bad if you have chips in the collet slits.

    Very limited clamping range, also quite limited clamping area and force, I would never run an end mill above maybe 1/2" in one because of pull out, things like taps are also probably a no no.


    In short I think they are no replacement for other collet systems but can be a handy addition for cramped jobs or fine work.

  3. #3
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    Default

    G'day Dave,
    My Thiel runs in spindle collets, although not NT30, and they work fine.
    They are very ridgid and save head space.
    As mentioned, single size clamping means you need a few of them and they're a lot bigger to store than say ER40's but you could probably get by with just the more common shank sizes. I often run 1" tools and have never had the collet slip in the spindle. I have had cutters, particularly solid carbide ones, work their way down when taking heavy cuts but I've had the same happen with ER's too.
    I prefer this setup to ER's because I find it less fiddly but I think it's just what I'm used to.
    I think the main benefit is the extra head space and unless you really need this there's probably not a lot to be gained.
    Cheers,
    Greg.

  4. #4
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    Default

    Thanks guys, I was just wondering if anyone had used the NT30 ones being a different steaper taper to R8 etc. Where the NT30 was designed to be driven by the drive lug/ blocks.

    I don't think I'll bother buying any, just curious as I've never seen them before, and just because the Chinese make them, doesn't mean they work great lol
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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
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    Default

    Dave,

    Back in 2012 a bloke in Holland gave me a set of ISO30 collets he refered to as 'Frankencollets' because he reckoned they were so ugly. Indeed a few had cosmetic damage probably from being used in a grinder of some sort and all of them had been modified with the addition of an external drawbar thread but these collets have proved invaluable because of the additional Z clearance they provide. Ideal for holding drill chucks and bits.

    Bob.

    ps. I signed up with AliExpress this morning and purchased a 16 and a 20mm collet. If and when they roll up I will post an appraisal. I haven't got high hopes but they might do for holding things like countersinking/chamfering tools.

    Franz Singer in Germany sells 30 taper collets but at a considerably higher price - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Direktspann...-/122886364575 Roughly $130 AU plus GST and shipping.

    IMG_20191002_071954273 (Large).jpg IMG_20191002_075332661.jpg IMG_20191002_075659481 (1) (Large).jpg

  6. #6
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    The 16 and 20mm collets I purchased on AliExpress finally arrived. A precision ground bar held in the 16mm collet showed 0.002" TIR 20mm from the collet nose. There was 0.009" TIR on a 20mm PG bar 20mm from the collet nose so that collet has nose dived into the bin. Cost me close to 40 dollars for the pair.

    IMG_20191118_164723285 (Large).jpg IMG_20191118_164736482 (Large).jpg

  7. #7
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    Default

    Thanks for the feedback Bob, you could try contacting the seller, or asking for a partial refund because of the quality
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  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Anorak Bob View Post
    The 16 and 20mm collets I purchased on AliExpress finally arrived. A precision ground bar held in the 16mm collet showed 0.002" TIR 20mm from the collet nose. There was 0.009" TIR on a 20mm PG bar 20mm from the collet nose so that collet has nose dived into the bin. Cost me close to 40 dollars for the pair.
    And this is why I won't buy ANYTHING that requires precision from China, the quality is just too random. I'd rather pay triple once and know that I'm getting a good product.

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