What Collet Chuck have I got?

[fisherjim]

Could be a Clarkson, does it take standard end mills?. Is there a pointed dimple inside the body at the top?.

[irving2008]

Could be a Clarkson, does it take standard end mills?. Is there a pointed dimple inside the body at the top?.

Yes, there's something that looks like a little centre in there.., here are some pics...

[Robin Hewitt]

Yes, there's something that looks like a little centre in there.., here are some pics...

That's the one...

Screw the nose shut, it doesn't grip until the cutter is in place. Screw in a milling cutter until it hits the pin, open the nose slightly so you can screw the cutter in another quarter turn then tighten the nose.

Don't screw the cutter in too far, smaller sizes can shatter if not supported by the threads because the nut drives against them.

[irving2008]

That's the one...

Screw the nose shut, it doesn't grip until the cutter is in place. Screw in a milling cutter until it hits the pin, open the nose slightly so you can screw the cutter in another quarter turn then tighten the nose.

Don't screw the cutter in too far, smaller sizes can shatter if not supported by the threads because the nut drives against them.

Hmmm, I dont understand - what does the cutter 'screw' onto, there's no thread as such inside...

[edit]Ah - I see... its a Clarkson Posilock.. uses threaded tanged collets... so I need to buy a set of collets at £35 then some special threaded endmills at £5 - 8 a go...

Should I maybe just go get an ER25 or ER32 collet set...?[/edit]

[Robin Hewitt]

Ah - I see... its a Clarkson Posilock.. uses threaded tanged collets...

So you didn't get the wooden box with chuck, spanner and set of four Imperial collets then?

No great loss, compared to the ER32 I now use, it's a piece of dung. Millling cutters from yesteryear only.

I tried inserting a bolt in the back of the 1/4" collet to give it something to press against so I could use an unthreaded cutter, but it didn't have the grip.

[irving2008]

So you didn't get the wooden box with chuck, spanner and set of four Imperial collets then?

No great loss, compared to the ER32 I now use, it's a piece of dung. Millling cutters from yesteryear only.

I tried inserting a bolt in the back of the 1/4" collet to give it something to press against so I could use an unthreaded cutter, but it didn't have the grip.

Thats all the argument I need to go buy an ER32 chuck with collet set from RDG or Chronos...

[irving2008]

Thinking this through further... my lathe has an MT3 taper also would it make more sense to buy:

ER32 MT3 Collet set

or

MT3 Collet set

Whats the advantage/disadvantage of the direct acting collets?