Small MT2 Tailstock Chuck for ML7

All, the smallest tailstock chuck I have for the ML7 is still fairly large and heavy. Although it closes to pretty much nothing, I sometimes have to put a pin chuck in it for very small drills. Obviously this increases overhang, reducing accuracy and stiffness just when I need it.

Can anyone recommend a very small Jacobs type chuck with an MT2 taper? Preferably keyless, but anything considered so long as it’s accurate and securely closes to about 0.25mm diameter minimum.

Thanks.

Get a pin chuck and mount it in the standard chuck. Do not tighten the main chuck down enough to stop it from moving. You can restrain the pin chuck with your fingers for these small drills and move the pin chuck into the workpiece by hand giving a good feel for the cutting action. You may need to add a collar to the pin chuck for drills that are bigger than your Ø0.25mm ones. 

Martin C

Edited By Martin Connelly on 27/01/2022 13:32:07

The obvious [but perhaps costly] choice would, I think, be something like a watchmaker’s tailstock spindle mounted to slide within a Morse Taper blank.

MichaelG.

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Edit: __ for inspiration only … unless you have very deep pockets :

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/lathe-drilling-tailstock

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 27/01/2022 13:59:53

Edited By Frances IoM on 27/01/2022 14:01:30

I've use one of ARCs little sensitive holders and a chuck to do 0.3mm hole so should be OK for your 0.25mm ones too.

Regularly use their "heavy duty" ones for 0.8mm holes too.

Edited By JasonB on 27/01/2022 14:22:02

I use a Rhom supra 0 - 4 mm B10, top one in the supra list, Niko.

**LINK**

Edited By speelwerk on 27/01/2022 14:29:10

+1 for the Arc sensitive chuck that Jason shows, use mine all the time and it has a nice ‘feel’

Martin

Another +1 for the Arc sensitive chuck, find it invaluable and seem not to have broken so many tiny drills since purchase! Previously used an Arrand one that fitted on the tailstock dieholder set, not such a sensitive feel as the Arc for really small drills.

Just done a few oil jets for sight glasses at No 78 drill with no casualties.

Dave

Edited By Dave Wootton on 27/01/2022 16:21:51

Bear in mind that the chuck and arbor are sold separately. So, for example, Arceurotrade's two smallest chucks (keyed and keyless) can both be married to 2MT arbors.

Rod

Arc sell a range of MT2 tapers with various tapers on the nose - and the chucks to match them.

I also purchased a 'sensitive' drill but frankly felt that the drill shaft was far too loose in it's body - so I remade it as mentioned a week or so back. However, I think it's worth pointing out that you don't really need this kind of drill holder (with knurled bearing) as when used in the tailstock, it doesn't need to revolve.

You could use any small chuck and just make a sliding shaft into an MT2 blank arbor.

The knurled bearing is required if you use it in a drill or mill - as then the body does spin. This 'sensitive' type of chuck & holder is also useful if you have a small horzontal mill with a vertical head that has no 'quill' (so drilling has to be done by raising/lowering the table). My re-built version has a reduced 10mm shaft end, so it can fit in an ER16 collet and be used on my Taig milling head.

Regards,

IanT

Edited By IanT on 27/01/2022 17:56:28

There's a chap on facebook in Coventry called Dave Adkins who sells used tools etc. he usually has lots of that sort of stuff. I've had a 3MT chuck and various bits and bobs from him and he's usually pretty reasonable price wise.

Hi, I also have one of those from Arc, the chuck is 0.3mm - 4mm, but it won't hold onto a a piece of 0.26mm wire, but they are a good piece of kit.

Regards Nick.

The chuck will hold PCB type drills with their larger shanks without problem.

We have a couple of pristine Jacobs small chucks, one 5/16" and the other 1/4", I believe they are JT1 tapers. One has a MT2 and the other is on an R8. The 1/4" will hold a no80 drill easily, and probably smaller and the body is much shorter than the common 1/2" chucks.

Edited By old mart on 27/01/2022 21:40:31

Thanks all.

So the Arc chuck and collar is fixed into a larger chuck in the tailstock, and can be extended and retracted by the collar? And if fitted into a mill or pillar drill, the chuck rotates but the collar stays loose, and can still be extended and retracted?

Sounds spot-on, but ideally I’d like to fit it direct into the MT2 taper to get it as short as possible. Can the straight shank easily be replaced with a taper? Then I’d have both options?

thinking about it, I think I may have a small chuck on an MT2 in a box I got with the lathe. Might dig it out, but it looked dead IIRC, and obviously wouldn’t be ‘sensitive’ (which seems like a good idea).

Yes you have the operation right.

Has the Myford got a through hole so you could use a MT2 x 1/2" collet

I have a small Jacobs chuck it is a medium duty up to 4mm size. It has an 0 JT taper mount and I have the 0JT to 1/2 " stem mount. It can be used in a collet on the mill or in the chuck on the lathe but I believe you can get a Morse 1 to 0 JT arbour it runns very true within a couple of thou at worst. I have made a mount for my Stuart lathe for the same chuck to suit the tailstock.

David

Yes, the tailstock MT2 taper is hollow if that’s what you mean? Presumably I’d need a draw bar then? Thanks.

Thanks David. That’s similar to the one I think I’ve got in a box, only MT2. I’ll dig it out today.

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Hence my [presumably inappropriate] suggestion, yesterday.

MichaelG.