- Joined
- Jun 12, 2014
- Messages
- 5,071
I got started collecting 5C collets about 2 years ago when I got my lathe with a 5C chuck. Had little experience with 5C and had been using an ER-32 system in my mill. So started out with a basic Lyndex 5C collet setup by 1/16th that I picked up on eBay.
After awhile, I started having issues with the limited clamping range of the 5c collets (i.e. nil), and so started collecting some more collets through the next year. Finally was able to get a full set of 1/64th collets. The problem has been where to store them, since I have very limited space and no more draws to stick them. Well, I ended up getting a rack for the outer cabinet on my lathe. First one, then a second, and finally a third (Enco sales). Of course every one would be slightly different and a different color. So cleaned them all up and sprayed them with some gunmetal colored spray paint, which was fairly close to my PM1340GT cabinet color, albeit the later is not metallic. Anyway with 3 racks fitting nicely on the outer side of the cabinet. I have been using a LatheMaster 5C tru-set chuck, which trued up fairly well, but the chuck body wobbled quite a bit. I ended up turning down the chuck outer body and D1-4 backing plate. Works OK, but pretty slow with the collet changes. The other drawback with the 5C collets is that even with a collet stop to position the work material, the Y axis position changes as you tighten down the work piece. I do not trust the reproducibility of turning multiple pieces by just using the stop. Might try an ER system down the line, as they seem to give a tighter hold the the 5C. Anyway, these are the 5C collets racks on my machine. The racks take up almost no space, and are handily available when I am using the lathe.
After awhile, I started having issues with the limited clamping range of the 5c collets (i.e. nil), and so started collecting some more collets through the next year. Finally was able to get a full set of 1/64th collets. The problem has been where to store them, since I have very limited space and no more draws to stick them. Well, I ended up getting a rack for the outer cabinet on my lathe. First one, then a second, and finally a third (Enco sales). Of course every one would be slightly different and a different color. So cleaned them all up and sprayed them with some gunmetal colored spray paint, which was fairly close to my PM1340GT cabinet color, albeit the later is not metallic. Anyway with 3 racks fitting nicely on the outer side of the cabinet. I have been using a LatheMaster 5C tru-set chuck, which trued up fairly well, but the chuck body wobbled quite a bit. I ended up turning down the chuck outer body and D1-4 backing plate. Works OK, but pretty slow with the collet changes. The other drawback with the 5C collets is that even with a collet stop to position the work material, the Y axis position changes as you tighten down the work piece. I do not trust the reproducibility of turning multiple pieces by just using the stop. Might try an ER system down the line, as they seem to give a tighter hold the the 5C. Anyway, these are the 5C collets racks on my machine. The racks take up almost no space, and are handily available when I am using the lathe.
