Quick change collet

[woodgod]

Does anyone have knowledge of any kind of a quick change collet that might be available for my three hp spindel. In the absence of a tool changer I was thinking if there were some kind of quick change collet it would be almost as good

[Brady Watson]

Unfortunately - No. Most tools take no longer than 30 sec to change & zero out with C2.

-B

[woodgod]

I dont consider myself the sharpest knife in the cabinet when it comes to computer stuff, but, I will put my woodworking and mechanical skills up against anyone, and, I have never been able to change tools and zero in 30 sec. and then put a hired hand to accomplish the same task and you can tripple the time. I just thought given the tooling available someone just might have designed something akin to the keyless chuck of a drill

[beacon14]

My bit changes including zeroing usually take between 1 1/2 and 2 minutes, not rushing. Some of that time is removing and replacing the dust shoe.

[myxpykalix]

I use this on my legacy but haven't used it on my shopbot. You might do a search for "eliminator chuck" to see if it is anything that is available for a spindle.
http://legacywoodworking.com/products.cfm?product=20

7072

[Brady Watson]

30 sec is a little quick...but I think you get the point. How much time are you going to lose by manually changing tools? This of course depends on the job, but if you have the business to justify a tool changer, than cost is not an issue.

-B

[ryan_slaback]

I don't know of anything available for a spindle, but this system is available for the PC Router. Whether the same principle could be done with a spindle I do not know.

http://www.midwestrapidtool.com/index.htm

You could use it in manual mode or they have a tool changer and software written for the bot.

[knight_toolworks]

if you take the dust boot off that slow if you work around it it is only a little faster. otherwise it is not too bad. but I always move the head up and clear to the front so there is time to move where I can reach it easily.

[thewoodcrafter]

Here is a thread I started some time ago that moved from tool changer to quick change collets.
SILL NO SOLUTION.

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/messages/312/17238.html?1182015987