ER-11 Collet Rack

[mars-red]

Had this idea for an easy-to-make rack to hold my ER-11 collets. Video is short and doesn't get into details, because I felt it really wasn't necessary. Once you see it, it's pretty self explanatory I think.

EDIT: I made a few attempts to put a plain link to the video here, but the forum software keeps converting it to an embedded video, which is unfortunate because it doesn't seem to allow full screen viewing that way.

[DIYer]

Thanks mars-red! We've added your Collet Rack to our Storage and Organization category,
as well as to your builder page: mars-red's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Collet Rack by mars-red

tags: rack, collet

[Paul Jones]

mars-red,

I envoy watching everything on your YouTube channel. The collet rack is a very practice design.

I like the carbide insert milling head shown early in the video. Who makes this and what are the insert specs?

Paul Jones

[rossbotics]

Nice job
looks great

[pfredX1]

That's pretty fancy. I just drilled some holes in chunks of plastic to hold my collets. http://i.imgur.com/VSfkEiS.jpg http://i.imgur.com/M7tob2Y.jpg

[Frank S]

When I first saw the video I was thinking that sure is a lot of material removal until I happened to see the collet size
Super clean job nice work my problem is I would somehow manage to place it where it would be knocked over and I'd have little collets going everywhere.

[mars-red]

mars-red,

I envoy watching everything on your YouTube channel. The collet rack is a very practice design.

I like the carbide insert milling head shown early in the video. Who makes this and what are the insert specs?

Paul Jones

Thanks Paul! The carbide insert end mill is one I found in my buddy's stash of stuff when he was selling off his metalworking tools. It was still unused, in the tube. I didn't realize you could even get them that small. I don't like insert tooling enough to pay new prices for tool holders, in this case I got the thing so cheap that I couldn't pass it up. I really like it for mild steel. The inserts aren't the best for aluminum, like in this project, but it was more convenient than using a fly cutter.

Mine is an "Anser Dex", by the Harbor Tool Company. Model HS-050 end mill. They apparently went out of business well over a decade ago. But Cutting Tool Technologies makes an identical model, and suspiciously the model number is even the same - HS-050. You can buy them new, here, for $180: Cutting Tool Technologies: HS-050 End Mill That seems very reasonably priced based on what I've seen, so if you're inclined to buy new insert tooling then it's probably worth a look. The inserts are SPEH-2.522, and reputable ones seem to cost about $20 each. You can find the less-than-reputable ones for just a few bucks each.

That's pretty fancy. I just drilled some holes in chunks of plastic to hold my collets. http://i.imgur.com/VSfkEiS.jpg http://i.imgur.com/M7tob2Y.jpg

Nice! I nearly did the same, but had to follow through with this idea once it popped into my head.

When I first saw the video I was thinking that sure is a lot of material removal until I happened to see the collet size
Super clean job nice work my problem is I would somehow manage to place it where it would be knocked over and I'd have little collets going everywhere.

Haha thanks! If these had been larger collets I would have made the rack from several pieces. The nice thing about this design is if the slots aren't a snug enough fit to keep the collets from going anywhere, it's just as easily mounted on its back so they really won't go anywhere.

[mars-red]

<!-- BEGIN /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->
Thanks mars-red! We've added your Collet Rack to our Storage and Organization category,
as well as to your builder page: mars-red's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Thanks! The description says it's made of steel, but it's actually made of aluminum, would you mind making that correction?

[Paul Jones]

mars-red,

Thank you so much for researching the availability of the small carbide insert end mill at Cutting Tool Technologies. I was impressed by your video because many of us have smaller milling machines and the 1" dia. carbide insert end mill would be very useful.

I don't want to take away from your excellent work but not all HMT members have the sophisticated milling machines to duplicate your elegant aluminum ER11 collet rack. Instead, I took the very easy way with a simple flat oak wood collet holder and using a two step hole with Forstner bits to accommodate the collet tapers.

http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/w...4984#post19349

This design was based on creating a small ER16 rack that easily would fit into the small draw under the Unimat SL 1000 ( http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/m...00-lathe-10111 ). I am now considering what to design for a new ER32 collet rack. One approach is using a Jalapeno Pepper Rack and adding wood sides to elevate and angle the rack (King Kooker Jalapeno Rack with Corer Tool-36JR - The Home Depot ). This may be an easy way to build the ER32 rack.

Thank you for posting the YouTube video and providing the current supplier for the carbide insert end mill.

Regards,
Paul Jones

[pfredX1]

The holders I made are basically the same thing. Blocks with holes in them. But I opted for plastic because I figure it is more inert than wood is. So collets held in plastic are less prone to staining or rust than those in contact with wood may be.