3/8" Collet

[nat_wheatley]

For Columbo spindle, where to buy?

[bleeth]

ShopBot, MSC Direct, Integra tooling

[nat_wheatley]

What's the difference between the ER11/16/20,,, collets?

[bleeth]

Different spindles take different series. Columbo is ER25

[nat_wheatley]

Thanks Dave.

[bcammack]

www.use-enco.com (http://www.use-enco.com)

They have decent prices, too.

[Brady Watson]

Buy your collets from ShopBot! Be VERY careful about what type of ER25 collet you put into your spindle. I bought a set of collets that would do both SAE & metric diameter shanks & wound up bottoming out the threads on the nut and breaking threads on the shaft of the spindle. I had to cut the nut off with a wizzer wheel to get it off. I now have to replace the spindle shaft on my 5HP Colombo @ $1200...so word to the wise people...There aren't enough threads on the nut to use 'universal' collets & fully collapse them properly. Only PDS and ShopBot, I have found, sell the original & approved ER25 collets for your spindles. If you can find them elsewhere, go for it...but I'd hate for you to do what I did.

-B

[bleeth]

Brady: Sorry about your problem-that sucks!! I have bought collets from MSC and Integra and have had zero issues. Also Enco. When offered different grades I go for the US made for the extra couple of bucks and stay away from the chinese variety.

[bws]

Hi Nat.
I have been using this site for collets for several months and never had a problem. The prices are reasonable too.
http://www.maritool.com/
Jim

[bcondon]

I have a new PRS Alpha with the 2.2 HP spindle.

Is this operational normal?

When I load a bit in, I have the collet in my hand, I place the collet into the spindle nut
and then put the bit, through the spindle nut into the collet.

I now put the assembly (collet) into the spindle, then backturn the spindle nut to get 1/2 turn, then turn clockwise to catch the nut onto the spindle.

The spindle nut never goes on very far (maybe 1/2 turn) before tightening on to the collet which always makes me a bit nervous that I have cross threaded the nut.

When the collet is not in the nut, of course you get 5 or more full turns.

Everything runs fine (no vibration), bits are tight... but thought I would check in.

[beacon14]

Are you just "placing" the collet in the nut or are you "snapping" the collet in by inserting it at a slight angle and twisting it into place?

Sounds like you should be getting more threads engaged before it tightens.

[bcondon]

I will play with it again... I have never gotten a "snap" into the spindle.. it always just tighteneds but I will try at an slight angle and see if it is different...

Many thanks for the reply...

Tonight is the making of two signs:

Man Cave

for a good friend for her Christmas presents to the two young males in her life (My son and her son!)

[bcondon]

David

Thanks for the clarity. I was just placing the collet into the nut. I "thought" that I was suppose to hear the snap placing the collet into the spindle.

Now that I understand, it works like a champ and I get several turns on the spindle nut onto the spindle!

Again, thanks for the explanation.

BC

[knight_toolworks]

also the nuts re different. just because they are er25 does not make them the same. I have 5 that are fine thread that will not work.