What are the advantages of the ER system of tooling?

Nelson

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I apologize if I have asked this before...


Everyone talks about Er tooling.

What are its advantages, and any disadvantages? What do the various numbers mean (ie ER-40).

Thanks!


:tiphat:
Nelson
 
I have only used the ER25 size but its a great way to hold smaller cutters. I have a R8 tool holder with an ER25 on the end. For .250" and smaller cutters it gives me room away from the spindle so I can see what I'm doing better. An R8 holds just as well but is too close to the spindle when using a .065 cutter to mill a pocket or something like that. That being said I mostly got one because the machine I teach on uses them and if they get damaged in anyway they can't be used on the CNC (it runs at 18,000 rpms). So I end up with several that are fine at the speeds I mill at. Some people get them because its easier to change the ER collet than an R8 because it doesn't use a draw bar. I think for a hobby machinist I would spend my money on other things.

Jeff
 
ER collets are Extended Range collets. They have a larger gripping range than other styles of collets like the 5C which is plus or minus a few thou.

The numer is the largest size they can accommodate. An ER25 is 25mm largest collet size, and ER40 is 40mm largest collet size.

On that DVD you got from me, in the Machine tool section, under collets, there is the technical info on ER collets by Rego Fix, along with Rego Fix catalogue.

I will try to put them in the downloads section for others that may need them.

Walter
 
Well even though there are files in the downloads section much larger than those two, I could not upload them so maybe you can. It said maximum upload limit reached.

Walter
 
Well even though there are files in the downloads section much larger than those two, I could not upload them so maybe you can. It said maximum upload limit reached.

Walter

I think it is because I closed the downloads area so I can upload all the files back.

Your limit to upload should be unlimited.

I will double check.


Nelson
 
Dave

ER 40 collets chucks will hold a variety of collets starting at about 1/8" (0.0120" to 0.160") up to a maximum collet size of 1" (0.984 - 1.02") and the collet size is 40 mm

ER 32 is 3/32 to 3/4" with the collet size being 32 mm.

ER 25 is 1/16 to 9/16 with the collet size being 25 mm.

NB: ER25 collets will not fit into an ER40 Chuck as the OD of the collets is different. ETC

For a more complete description and size ranges, we will upload the Rego fix Catalogue once Nelson gets the download section reopened.

Walter
 
I order these things all the time and I did not know what the number meant or that ER was extended range. :tiphat:

Thanks,
Jeff
 
I have both ER40 and 5C collets.

For my mill, I usually use the R8 set that I purchased with the mill, but I do have the R8 to ER40 Collet Chuck so I can use them when required.

For the Lathe, I have MT2 and MT3 ER40 Collet chucks. Actually I have two MT3 ER40's, one came in with 1/2-12Whitworth threads and the vendor kindly supplied me a relacement with the standard 3/8 threads. One day when I was "boarded", as my kid would say, I turned up a drawbar for the headstock, 1/2-13 at one end and 1/2-12 Whitworth at the other, so this coupled with the MT5-MT3 sleeve, gets me a collet chuck I can use in the headstock. The other one gets used in the tailstock when precise holding is required that is beyond the scope of a drill chuck.

The MT2, well that was for the old lathe that had the smaller tailstock.

These can also be used in a drill press or a milling machine with the MT arbour, just make sure that there is a way to use the drawbolt feature.

Walter

I am getting the ER40 Collet Chuck that Jeff Beck at tools4cheap has coming in and will mount it to or make it into a D1-4 mount for the headstock of the lathe.

The 5C collets are used in the square and Hex collet holders for quick and cheap indexing. Also I plan on getting the collet closer for my lathe at some point so they can be used in the lathe as well. The main advangtage of 5C collets in the lathe is that they use almost none of the workspace of the lathe, as they tuck nicely into the spindle and they can take advantage of the through hole capability of the lathe spindle, whereas the ER40 system, is either mounted like a chuck on the D1-4 or threaded nosepiece and in that way can be through hole, but reduces the overall length of the lathes work envelope, or mounts with MT tapered adapters and then there is no through hole capacity, adn they protude from the end of the spindle angain reducing the work envelope.
 
The main reason I don't have ER collets: $$$$ (I'm a cheap hobby machinist.)

Ed Hoc
 
I use an ER40 setup from Bison in my Bridgeport. No need to reach up to loosen the collet..or tap it free. Collet range is better than R-8 and cheaper for more accurate collets.

You do lose about 2 inches or less of Z axis space, but that has not been a problem so far. If and when it is I'll switch back to R-8 collets.
 
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