ER Collets: What's the Difference?
ER Collets: What's the Difference?
The size is not actually the OD of the collet at the largest point, more like a nominal size. If you measure one it will be oversize. Perhaps they may measure on point when compressed to their nominal range. ER collets have a clamping range of .039mm/1mm, much wider than R8, 5C, etc.
Ultimately it's the max tool size that will base your decision on which size to buy. I have heard that the larger sizes don't hold smaller sizes too well, ie ER40 won't hold 1/8" shanks well, etc. Not sure of the truth in that but I use ER40 for 3/8" - 1" & ER16 for 3/8" & smaller. I like the ER16 for tighter areas where the ER40 won't fit with a smaller endmill. ER32 (max 3/4") is a good all around size for our size mills.
Technicks make the best quality ER collets you will find for an import & are all I use. Made in Taiwan. Hemly Tool & All Industrial on ebay have the best prices on them. Nemic tools has them cheaper so if buying a few at a time that's the place place to buy. ER collets were designed by Rego Fix & are the most used collet system worldwide. I have heard Glacern ER chucks are made by Rego Fix but I'm not sure of the truth in that. I do know they are very high quality though. For the mill I have an ER16 chuck from Glacern & I have 2 ER40 chucks from Bison/TMX.
And I also use ER40 & ER16 on the lathe.
Thanks for the info guys (and the pics Will, very nice).
For those that do use them, how often do you run into clearance issues when up close to a part/vise/chuck? Reason I ask is I remember setting up tooling for my friends CNC and noticing rub marks (and worse) on some of the collet chucks where they've banged into stuff.
I can see one advantage though: Yesterday when I was doing my first cutting on my new mill I was having to move around quite a bit to see under the head and around the quill stop (or whatever you call that thing). A collet chuck would get the cutter down a bit further from the spindle so I could see it easier.
I would only worry about being so far from the spindle bearings if I was taking heavy cuts, but then if I have to do that I could buy a regular NT30 tool holder.
Every time I turn around there's more stuff that needs buying... ondering:
Why would these be considered an upgrade? I ask because I got a complete set when I bought my mill. I've used them and much prefer the R8s. My brief experience left me unimpressed and wondering what the positive points might be. I found them to be somewhat cumbersome and as you mentioned I was unable to get close enough to my work piece at the time (2 x 3 aluminum angle). I realize I'm really green relative to many here but I've yet to have any issues with the R8s so why is it an "upgrade"? One of the reasons I like them is using one set of collets for a lot of things. I have an r8 chuck, an mt2 chuck and a plate chuck like Dark Zero. I can use one set of collets in my lathe headstock with the ability to pass material/tools through the spindle and chuck,in the lathe tailstock, in my rotary table, and in my mill. That's pretty versatile. They are supposed to have less runout than r8 collets. I believe they have more holding power also. I bought a metric set of er collets that holds anything from it's lowest size to it's highest without any gaps in collets which is nicer than standard inch sizes that have gaps in the sets. I have some metric tooling projects and don't have to buy metric r8 collets that would only be useful in the mill. I can also swap mills/drills ect in the mill without climbing my short rear up on a step stool to fool with the draw bar. Within it's range, I don't have to swap out to a drill chuck to hold drill bits. That's what I can think of right off. I want to get a little set to complement my er40's, but that has to wait. Edit I forgot, I have no lack of vertical room on my Bridgeport to fight, and my chuck is scarcely bigger than my spindle, so no clearance issues for me. Those with mini mills would lose clearance in the Z using er chucks vs collets that fit inside the spindle. )
Holding that little chuck in the big one is just cheating, I like )
Ultimately it's the max tool size that will base your decision on which size to buy. I have heard that the larger sizes don't hold smaller sizes too well, ie ER40 won't hold 1/8" shanks well, etc. Not sure of the truth in that but I use ER40 for 3/8" - 1" & ER16 for 3/8" & smaller. I like the ER16 for tighter areas where the ER40 won't fit with a smaller endmill. ER32 (max 3/4") is a good all around size for our size mills.
Technicks make the best quality ER collets you will find for an import & are all I use. Made in Taiwan. Hemly Tool & All Industrial on ebay have the best prices on them. Nemic tools has them cheaper so if buying a few at a time that's the place place to buy. ER collets were designed by Rego Fix & are the most used collet system worldwide. I have heard Glacern ER chucks are made by Rego Fix but I'm not sure of the truth in that. I do know they are very high quality though. For the mill I have an ER16 chuck from Glacern & I have 2 ER40 chucks from Bison/TMX.
And I also use ER40 & ER16 on the lathe.
Thanks for the info guys (and the pics Will, very nice).
For those that do use them, how often do you run into clearance issues when up close to a part/vise/chuck? Reason I ask is I remember setting up tooling for my friends CNC and noticing rub marks (and worse) on some of the collet chucks where they've banged into stuff.
I can see one advantage though: Yesterday when I was doing my first cutting on my new mill I was having to move around quite a bit to see under the head and around the quill stop (or whatever you call that thing). A collet chuck would get the cutter down a bit further from the spindle so I could see it easier.
I would only worry about being so far from the spindle bearings if I was taking heavy cuts, but then if I have to do that I could buy a regular NT30 tool holder.
Every time I turn around there's more stuff that needs buying... ondering:
What's the difference between the different numbers on collet sets, e.g. er20, 40, etc.?
Looking at these as a possible upgrade from R8.
Why would these be considered an upgrade? I ask because I got a complete set when I bought my mill. I've used them and much prefer the R8s. My brief experience left me unimpressed and wondering what the positive points might be. I found them to be somewhat cumbersome and as you mentioned I was unable to get close enough to my work piece at the time (2 x 3 aluminum angle). I realize I'm really green relative to many here but I've yet to have any issues with the R8s so why is it an "upgrade"? One of the reasons I like them is using one set of collets for a lot of things. I have an r8 chuck, an mt2 chuck and a plate chuck like Dark Zero. I can use one set of collets in my lathe headstock with the ability to pass material/tools through the spindle and chuck,in the lathe tailstock, in my rotary table, and in my mill. That's pretty versatile. They are supposed to have less runout than r8 collets. I believe they have more holding power also. I bought a metric set of er collets that holds anything from it's lowest size to it's highest without any gaps in collets which is nicer than standard inch sizes that have gaps in the sets. I have some metric tooling projects and don't have to buy metric r8 collets that would only be useful in the mill. I can also swap mills/drills ect in the mill without climbing my short rear up on a step stool to fool with the draw bar. Within it's range, I don't have to swap out to a drill chuck to hold drill bits. That's what I can think of right off. I want to get a little set to complement my er40's, but that has to wait. Edit I forgot, I have no lack of vertical room on my Bridgeport to fight, and my chuck is scarcely bigger than my spindle, so no clearance issues for me. Those with mini mills would lose clearance in the Z using er chucks vs collets that fit inside the spindle. )
The size is not actually the OD of the collet at the largest point, more like a nominal size. If you measure one it will be oversize. Perhaps they may measure on point when compressed to their nominal range. ER collets have a clamping range of .039mm/1mm, much wider than R8, 5C, etc.
Ultimately it's the max tool size that will base your decision on which size to buy. I have heard that the larger sizes don't hold smaller sizes too well, ie ER40 won't hold 1/8" shanks well, etc. Not sure of the truth in that but I use ER40 for 3/8" - 1" & ER16 for 3/8" & smaller. I like the ER16 for tighter areas where the ER40 won't fit with a smaller endmill. ER32 (max 3/4") is a good all around size for our size mills.
Technicks make the best quality ER collets you will find for an import & are all I use. Made in Taiwan. Hemly Tool & All Industrial on ebay have the best prices on them. Nemic tools has them cheaper so if buying a few at a time that's the place place to buy. ER collets were designed by Rego Fix & are the most used collet system worldwide. I have heard Glacern ER chucks are made by Rego Fix but I'm not sure of the truth in that. I do know they are very high quality though. For the mill I have an ER16 chuck from Glacern & I have 2 ER40 chucks from Bison/TMX.
And I also use ER40 & ER16 on the lathe.
Holding that little chuck in the big one is just cheating, I like )
Choosing the right ER Collet Chuck Size
by Bernard Martin We often get asked to spec out tooling packages for new CNC mills and one of the questions we encounter most, or should, is how do you select the right toolholder collet size for your companies applications?
&#;The real choice is in the size of the collet chuck itself. So several considerations should be reviewed...
&#;If you are doing very small work then perhaps an ER11 set would be the best choice.
If the bulk of your tool requirements are in the mid range you can also use the ER20. The following is a list of tool diameters that can be used with each size collet chuck. Essentially, the most popular, and again, readily available from a number of sources, are the ER 16, ER20, and ER32... in no particular order. If you need more detailed list of dimensions can be found at these links:
Obviously, stubbier is better for projection reach "L1". But, you also need to review the families of parts that you intend to run on the machine.
If you intend to use the holder to "reach" into a tight fit then the OD of the projection "D" of the toolholder needs to be considered.
Many shops don't always consider this and end up using much longer carbide shanked end mills to get into deep pockets when getting a smaller diameter ER collet and collet chuck would be much less expensive over the life of the job. Here is a list of the OD projection diameters:
&#;The real choice is in the size of the collet chuck itself. So several considerations should be reviewed...
What size are your tools?
Your first consideration should be the size of end mills or drills you will be using most often. If you are doing smaller work you would require smaller diameter range collets. Generally you may prefer the ER16 and ER32 sizes.&#;If you are doing very small work then perhaps an ER11 set would be the best choice.
If the bulk of your tool requirements are in the mid range you can also use the ER20. The following is a list of tool diameters that can be used with each size collet chuck. Essentially, the most popular, and again, readily available from a number of sources, are the ER 16, ER20, and ER32... in no particular order. If you need more detailed list of dimensions can be found at these links:
- ER Collet sizes Inch (Imperial)
- ER Collet Sizes Metric
How far do you need to reach?
A second consideration is the actual reach of the tool. Not projection reach, also know as &#;gage length&#; "l1" but projection diameter &#;D&#;.Obviously, stubbier is better for projection reach "L1". But, you also need to review the families of parts that you intend to run on the machine.
If you intend to use the holder to "reach" into a tight fit then the OD of the projection "D" of the toolholder needs to be considered.
Many shops don't always consider this and end up using much longer carbide shanked end mills to get into deep pockets when getting a smaller diameter ER collet and collet chuck would be much less expensive over the life of the job. Here is a list of the OD projection diameters:
- B=ER11 0.748" (19mm)
- B=ER16 1.259" (32mm)
- B=ER20 1.338" (34mm)
- B=ER25 1.653" (42mm)
- B=ER32 1.968" (50mm)
- B=ER40 2.480" (63mm)
For more information, please visit Er Collet Types and Sizes.
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