Collet chuck for miniature DC motor

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Collet chuck for miniature DC motor

sleemanj

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Topic # 112142 27-Nov-2012 22:07

Ok, so, for reasons peculiar, I'm looking for a collet exactly like in this image, except, not attached to a motor. For scale, that drill bit is 0.8mm diameter, ie, it's a typical miniature DC motor with a shaft a couple mm diameter.

I can buy the whole thing pictured for $5 AUD on ebay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-Small-PCB-Drill-Press-Drilling-With-0-8mm-Drill-Diameter-28mm-Motor-Diameter-/270934983792?pt=AU_HardwareParts&hash=item3f14fbc470&_uhb=1#ht_4365wt_1141) but I would REALLY like to find just the connector (partly because I have plenty of DC motors).

You'd think if these things are available "built up" all over ebay, alibaba etc, that the collet's must be too, but damned if I can find them.

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James Sleeman
I sell lots of stuff for electronic enthusiasts...

linw

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Reply # 724021 28-Nov-2012 10:17

And, compared with the whole thing, how much would it cost? You've already wasted more than $5 worth of time:)

nickb800

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Reply # 724046 28-Nov-2012 10:51

At least share the project with us, sounds interesting! CNC PCB manufacturing?

mattRSK

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Reply # 724047 28-Nov-2012 10:52

I've never seen one of these before, looks pretty cool actually.
+1 on wanting to know what your plan is :)

sleemanj

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Reply # 724141 28-Nov-2012 12:34

linw: And, compared with the whole thing, how much would it cost? You've already wasted more than $5 worth of time:)

Hah, I've probably wasted far more time than $5, but it's the principle that matters! I'll probably give making my own "chuck" another try (have attempted a few ideas, but nothing good enough) and then admit defeat and just buy it from ebay.

To those asking what I'm doing...

The "project" is, that I have a stack of old inkjet multi-function printers, (which can be purchased for like a buck each off trademe without any problem all the time), and I'm progressively tearing them apart with the intention to try and re-use as much as possible from these, and add as few parts as necessary, to hack them into other useful things (pie-in-the-sky idea one day to make a crude rostock style delta bot almost entirely out of old printer parts). Why? Because, a) I'm a cheap-ass, b) there is good stuff in printers, it seems a shame that they are just regarded as worthless junk, c) not much work on, gotta have something to occupy my mind.

In this particular case I have it in my mind to make a semi-automated PCB drill press*, so actually that ebay item is exactly what is needed, but I am quite reluctant to purchase the whole thing because it goes against the "reuse old junk printers" mantra, since each multifunction inkjet already has a couple of suitable DC motors in it.

* While holding the button, drill descends until limit switch tripped, reverses for set (adjustable) time during which you reposition board, descends again.

Mechanically, a Z-axis, running on two salvaged rods with cylindrical linear bearings (purchased, only a couple of bucks), and another one or two salvaged rods (6mm or 8mm) which I will thread into crude leadscrews which the "drill sled" will ride down, either one each side as in the below image, or a single one set behind the drill motor may be better (but less clearance). Salvaged DC motor(s) will turn the leadscrews (or maybe a salvaged stepper). The limit switch (perhaps opto) will be salvaged. As will the power supply, and perhaps a couple of the electronic components (but all ridiculous small SMD in printers these days and custom ICs, so virtually impossible to find anything generally reusable).

I'm hopeless with 3d modelling, but here is a crude and completely not-to-scale sketch.

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James Sleeman
I sell lots of stuff for electronic enthusiasts...

sleemanj

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Reply # 724448 28-Nov-2012 23:56

I gave in, just can't make my own collett/coupling accurate enough that it would work. Grumble.

So I spent the $3 AUD for the cheapest motor+collett+drill on Ebay with free shipping
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=181030273863#ht_5138wt_1141

Never ceases to amaze me how cheap you can get stuff on ebay with free shipping from Hong Kong/Mainland China, sure it takes a few weeks sometimes (then I've had the odd thing arrive within days, luck of the draw) but simply incredible if you ask me.

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James Sleeman
I sell lots of stuff for electronic enthusiasts...

sleemanj

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Reply # 724452 29-Nov-2012 02:06

Would you believe it! 2 hours after I order the whole thing, I stumble across exactly the part I was looking for!

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2pcs-Small-Drill-Clamp-Collet-For-2-3mm-Motor-Shaft-/280875655893?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41657e62d5&_uhb=1#ht_1084wt_1165

Oh for.... there's a whole pile of them. Ebay's (I use .com.au) search is very annoying sometimes, if you search for "collet" on ebay.com.au, none of the below appear, if you set that same search to "Worldwide" they do, even though the non-worldwide search shows results from a variety of countries!

Searching for drill collet and choosing worldwide gives the these all as the first results.

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James Sleeman
I sell lots of stuff for electronic enthusiasts...

Niel

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Reply # 724457 29-Nov-2012 06:07

I always do UK, AU, and US in that order. UK because it is also a small continent which knows about international shipping but close to Europe so you get variate, AU because they are close to us and usually can convince the seller to ship to us, and last try US because they do not know the world go beyond their borders but sometimes you get lucky.

But yes, I've also had issues with eBay searches. And also found some great bargains. But avoid high power LED lamps, they are advertised on the max you could get from the LED and not from how the lamp lamp is designed.

You can never have enough Volvos!

mattRSK

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Reply # 724509 29-Nov-2012 09:03

Nice project, at university we had a drill press that drilled up from underneath. There was a target scope on top that made it very easy for lining up the holes. Good luck with the project.