ER32 collet sizes

[Shox Dr]

Couple of questions the great collective might answer...

I found you can get ER collets in half steps, however now I want to buy some I cant find any. Any suggestions please.

Or would I be better buying a full set of imperial collets as a lot of those fall between the metric sizes.

 

[mike os]

er collets cover a range, usually in 1mm steps so a 13mm will do 13-12mm and would properly grip a 1/2 inch shank, unlike older style collets er close front and rear so a precise fit is not required at the outset ( unlike say an R8 or MT collet)

So all you actually need is a full set, in whatever you prefer to work in... imp or metric

 

[Shox Dr]

er collets cover a range, usually in 1mm steps so a 13mm will do 13-12mm and would properly grip a 1/2 inch shank, unlike older style collets er close front and rear so a precise fit is not required at the outset ( unlike say an R8 or MT collet)

So all you actually need is a full set, in whatever you prefer to work in... imp or metric

I’m up to speed on the range collets. I already have a standard MM set. to save removing the collet holder for a dril chuck I use the ER to hold everything. Lazy meh. Faster Yes.
Eg, you want to hold 10.1mm drill you need the 10-11 collets (not 9-10mm), you then need 3 hands to hold the drill in the the collet while you nip it up. And imperial 13/32” would be a better collet to use at 10.32mm

 

[zx9]

I’m up to speed on the range collets. I already have a standard MM set. to save removing the collet holder for a dril chuck I use the ER to hold everything. Lazy meh. Faster Yes.
Eg, you want to hold 10.1mm drill you need the 10-11 collets, you then need 3 hands to hold the drill in the the collet while you nip it up. And imperial 13/32” would be a better collet to use at 10.32mm

Good point, I suppose the next question is how much to spend? Is there a real difference between a no name set and one from a UK supplier, are all the ones in little yellow boxes the same or is there some kind of quality control where the good ones are separated out and sold at a premium? And if you are holding a drill shank does it matter how accurate they are, any collet must be more concentric than a drill chuck?

 

[Shox Dr]

The set I have at the moment I bought a longtime ago. Before the prices jumped. I have seen a full set (25peices) of imperial for 50quid. There are duplicates of metric sizes, but its cheaper than buying a half set (if I could find them).

3/32 is another good example max clamp is 2.35mm so it will hold a 1.4mm drill. the smallest metric (2-3) will not hold that

 

[Milkybars]

With the smaller stuff, consider making some little colars grub screwed for regular use sizes, off hand grind a little flat on the dril shank for location

 

[mike os]

for tiny pop an er11 into a collet

I see you are after convenience rather than basic functionality then!!!! LAzy git!!! use a chuck!

From what i recall fractional sizes are a pita!!

 

[Shox Dr]

With the smaller stuff, consider making some little colars grub screwed for regular use sizes, off hand grind a little flat on the dril shank for location

I do have a small chuck on a 10mm arbor, to get around that problem. It was more (as Mike says Speed) if the cutter is a better fit, you don’t have as much slack to take up, before it nips up.

 

[Milkybars]

Oh I know ..changing out to a chuck is time consuming hence this little get around for regular used Imperial fractional

 

[mike os]

Maybe a set of sleeves for common size bits? Could even get away with only using a couple of collets saving changing them so often too

 

[Kram]

For drilling just use a keyless chuck. Far too much effort swapping collets. Money better spent on taper drills.

 

[Shox Dr]

For drilling just use a keyless chuck. Far too much effort swapping collets. Money better spent on taper drills.

Thats even more time spent changing out stuff. The idea was to cut down time spinning collet nuts. I might as well drop the er install the chuck.
The MT2 on the Tom Senior is a very good fit, it takes a rite rap with a hammer to release. Something I don’t like doing to the spindle bearings too much

 

[Pete.]

For rapid change-out a speed chuck or draw-tube closer. The draw-tube closer you can use to release parts with the spindle running.

 

[Shox Dr]

For rapid change-out a speed chuck or draw-tube closer. The draw-tube closer you can use to release parts with the spindle running.

Not heard of those. Can you elaborate on that please Pete.
Edit; like a 5c collet drawbar for a lathe? Never seen a mt2 version

 

[Kram]

All my mt2 drills/mt adaptors have a spanner flat, they twist out easy. Lathe tailstock so nothing to hit on and the tangless are too short to pop by retracting.

Keyless chuck is quickest. No tools just the drill to be swapped.

 

[mike os]

Depending on what you need you could put a chuck on a straight shank to fit a collet?

 

[Pete.]

Not heard of those. Can you elaborate on that please Pete.
Edit; like a 5c collet drawbar for a lathe? Never seen a mt2 version

Sorry, I thought we were talking about a lathe.

I use what mike suggests - a chuck on a straight shank for a 20mm collet.

 

[northwest]

I bought a good few ER11 straight shank (10mm) collet holders a while back. I use them in a 10mm collet already set up in the ER40chuck for fast swapping when I am drilling and tapping smallish holes.
I have a good few set up with 3.3mm drills, centre drills, taps, 4mm drills. I am sure you get the idea, my other Mill is set up with a 10mm chuck too so swapping in between the two works for me. I did buy them a good few years ago and has been mentioned they have gone up in price now.

 

[Shox Dr]

I hear what you are suggesting, I have straight shank chucks. Its all adds to stack height, I’m also not keen on using them as you need to wind the knee up and down and its not powered

 

[Shox Dr]

I bought a good few ER11 straight shank (10mm) collet holders a while back. I use them in a 10mm collet already set up in the ER40chuck for fast swapping when I am drilling and tapping smallish holes.
I have a good few set up with 3.3mm drills, centre drills, taps, 4mm drills. I am sure you get the idea, my other Mill is set up with a 10mm chuck too so swapping in between the two works for me. I did buy them a good few years ago and has been mentioned they have gone up in price now.

I have been looking at those [more for access than anything] not cheap to buy a good hand full