Re: Semi-good high speed spindle idea? - Proxxon collet chucks

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Chris Horne" <chris@s...>
wrote:

>
> I actually got mine online in the UK
>
> but a google search shows this for the US
>
> http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?DeptID=5013&FamilyID=4624
>
> The shaft needs an 8 x 0.75 thread
> the shaft is then bored about 4.75mm
> then the end has to be accurately countersunk at approx 30 degrees
>
> I made a machine reamer from drill rod to do this part
>
> I then Air hardened and oven tempered mine
>
> it seems a bit of a performance but I reckon it's worth it..
>
> the alternative would be to buy the cheapest hand tool with the

chuck

> on it and salvage the shaft for fitting to your own shaft.
>
> If anyone has a CNC lathe, it might be worth making up some shafts

for

> resale.. I only have a manual lathe and I'm in the UK so I don't
> think it would be cost effective me offering to make them. At around
> 30 minutes each I would have to charge more than it would be worth !
>
> Chris

I am using the Proxxon collets too. They have a much lower runout
than the other cheaper grinders. I made a new "spindle" for them,
pretty much the same as Chris, and it works just fine. I did cut the
inside diameter and taper with a 1/8" carbide ball end mill in the
lathe toolpost grinder to reduce the runout as much as possible. I'm
going to make another spindle like this soon since it works so well.

The local Woodcraft store had the collet set, the chuck and also the
flexible shaft handset. I got the handset to try out because it was
about half the cost of the grinder itself, and appeared to have an
identical spindle. One word of caution in using the flexible shaft
handset, though. They are not intended to be used for hours at a time
as a cnc router requires, and mine got hot enough to melt the outer
plastic covering. That ruined it since the covering gives the cable a
lot of support. No problem in my case, as I just cut off the cable
and used the little handset by itself. I left enough of the inner
cable to attach to a drive motor. I put a picture of the
new "spindle" here if you want to see it:
http://www.metalworking.com/DropBox/Proxxon_collet_adapter.txt

Irby