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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Tamworth, NSW
    Posts
    202

    Default ER or 5c collet chuck for small screw making I have read

    Hi everyone

    i have ave been looking at setting up a collet chuck in my Emco super 11 lathe and am looking for some advice please. I have read many previous posts which has lead me to the following summary.

    ER collets have wider range of holding size per collet, were designed primarily for milling tool holding, grip along entire collet length and are generally for holding round stock.

    5c collets were designed for work holding in lathes, have narrow holding size (need more collets to cover size range compared to ER), grip at front of collet, very good at holding short pieces, can buy inserts for square and hex bar, can bore own size collets and potentially less marking of surfaces when holding threads etc compared to ER (I’m not sure about this last one?).

    I don’t have any collets or a milling machine at the moment so am starting from scratch. I intend to make small screws (2mm thread) and small barrel pivots (4-5mm) as well as bolt action pens (probably around 10mm diameter). With my intended uses in mind is there a particular reason that you feel one collet type would be better for me over the other?

    I was pretty set set on going ER-32 as it seems a popular and easy route but after a fair bit of research I have started to lean towards 5c. Both are readily available and price in setting up for each not too dissimilar (not enough to persuade me one way or another).

    I have a Bison 3 jaw and an Emco 4 jaw chuck already that came with the lathe.

    In my shoes what would you do?
    Ian

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    35
    Posts
    1,522

    Default

    I would probably go 5c. They are better at holding short items er does not grip well under 30% of their length. You can also put dead length stops in easily. I would go with a drawtube arrangement if possible not a scroll type chuck. Although they will do in a pinch.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
    Posts
    292

    Default

    I have a 5C chuck and think it would be better for your needs. If you thread one of the machinable collets it will grip the threads without damage it to work on the head. They are designed to take a depth stop which for some work is great. Parting off multiple pieces to length repeatedly for example. If you can justify the cost one of the Atlas hand wheel speed collet chucks you'll be in heaven. No chuck keys to fiddle with. Sure wish I had gotten it for my lathe instead of the Bison (a good chuck itself). A drawbar collet holder is even faster but can be hard to fit some lathes. https://www.grizzly.com/products/Atl...in-Back/T10353

    Pete

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    34
    Posts
    1,075

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by caskwarrior View Post
    er does not grip well under 30% of their length.
    Aside from that, you can permanently damage ER collets when clamping short pieces. Most manufacturers recommend against anything less than 2/3 of the length

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Laidley, SE Qld
    Posts
    1,038

    Default

    The big advantage of 5C over ER for lathe work is speed of work change over. Not important for onesy twosy work but if you are doing small runs the time savings mount up.
    With a rear collet closer, work swapping in a 5C can be done in seconds rather than maybe a minute for an ER32 collet. Not that you need ER32 for the sizes of items you mention, ER16 or maybe ER11 will suffice.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Tamworth, NSW
    Posts
    202

    Default

    Thank you for the excellent advice everyone. An atlas would be great but not the kind of money I am looking to spend at the moment. In all honesty I’m likely to play AliExpress roulette with the upcoming Black Friday sale and purchase a key closing 5c chuck and mount via backplate ah-la Stefan Gottswinter.

    Other than speed of changing collets is there other advantages of a drawbar setup?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Brisbane Australia
    Posts
    85

    Default

    Not that I am very smart or knowledgeable about using lathes but one thing I have seen good about collets is the fact that it has a drawbar, from my limited knowledge I would think it would add/enable more support than a thin part in a 35 or 40mm diameter lathe headstock.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    35
    Posts
    1,522

    Default

    Big advantage is the its all supported inside the spindle with a drawbar setup, less overhang means more rigid.

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