Collets for Boxford industrial size lathe

Does anyone use 5c collets on this type of Boxford and what way do they fit them?

.

A good way of holding stock and parts. Very solid holding and little if any run out.

They do however have a very small gripping range and can only take short lengths of stock when used with the drawbar. - Use in a chuck gets rid of the length issue.

The second hand price (of quality ones) reflects their status.

Nick

"this type of Boxford"

Do not assume everyone knows all about your workshop. If you have a 5MT spindle then you have to make your own adaptor from a 5 to 3 MT sleeve They are in theory available at least in the 'states from Grizzly but at a price. Strange that despite the number of Chinese 12in lathes sold the vendors have not cottoned on to the potential market for them and for bits of tube of the appropriate diameter.
If you have a MT4 1/2 spindle which I think some were then careful measuring is in order.
Then you can go for the front mounted adaptor but then you might as well use a chuck.

Andy,

If you want to use 5C collets you have 3 basic options.

1. Spindle bush/ Nose piece and a draw tube.

You can make a 5C taper nose and mount this inside the spindle bore (the bore is morse taper 4 1/2 bush) or you can made a D1-3 backplate mounted 5C taper nose.

I've seen both for sale although I think the 5C internal taper to 4 1/2 morse external was "home" made and I've only seen one on ebay. Several manufacturars have made a D1-3 mount 5C internal taper widgit. Monarch made such an item for the 10EE lathe and so have other manufacturars. They come up regular on ebay.com. It would be a nice project to make one.

If you want to make one fast tracked you can buy on ebay.de a 5C to 5MT bush and turn it down to 4 1/2 MT. or you can buy a 4 1/2 MT external to 3 MT internal from Boxford or get lucky on the second hand market.

As Nick_G points out if you use a drawbar with 5C collets you can't pass stock through. Suboptimal. Better to make or source a draw tube. Since 5C is so common they come up all the time on ebay.com, unlikely that they are exactly the correct length for the boxford but then owning a lathe you can fix that. I think one regular seller makes them professionally. Maybe they would make one to the exact length you need, or leave the end unhardened.

2. Get a 5C collet chuck with D1-3 mount.

Loads to choose from. Some better than others with a range in price to match. Some have a handwheel (speed / Sjogren chucks) some a regular chuck key.

I just looked to remind myself and my IS11.30 does not have any provision for mounting a collet closer on the far end of the spindle. I have learned that closers are very very nice. If you rule out the closer as part of the solution if it were me I would go with a D1-3 mounted 5C chuck.

3. Buy the 5C accessory kit from Boxford. I doubt you'll get much change from a grand.

Steve

Reason for Edit: Clarification, I was typing my post and meanwhile Bazyle posted. So some repeated content.

Edited By SteveI on 02/11/2016 18:08:23

Bazyle,

Your right I suppose we need to understand what was mean't by the OP. AFAIK:

"Old" boxfords: 3MT spindle bore. 5C won't fit. Better off with the 3C collets that were sold as standard accessories

"Old" Boxfords VSL L00 spindle nose so I think a 5MT. Go straight to ebay.de but the 5MT to 5C bush and then on to the draw tube. Or look for a L00 mount 5C collet chuck. They do come up on ebay.com.

"New" Boxfords e.g. the Industrial 11.30, D1-3 spindle with 4 1/2 MT spindle bore. Equals a bit of pain or a lot of luck see above post for options.

Steve

Was ist ein 'Collet bush' bitte?

Bazyle,

A "Spannzangenaufnahme" MK5 - 5C

Not sure why I wrote bush should have wrote adapter.

Steve

Of course, it was on the tip of my tongue

Thank you for replies.I do have a spare D1-3 back plate so will end up using that.I have a set of R8 collets its a pity there wasn't some way of using these in the lathe.