Thread: Al-280p Mill Drill Lathe Combined - Drawbar question

Hi and welcome to the forum Chela .

First off don't use it without a draw bar unless your drilling.The side thrust of milling will push it out every time.

I am really surprised it didn't come with a metric draw bar.
You could just get by for now with a piece of thread rod to fit the chuck from the local hardware store with 2 nuts locked together at the top and a washer.

A better fix would be to thread the end of a rod to suit and weld a head on it at the top.

What thread is the chuck most MT3 are M12 maybe your machine came with a 1/2 inch imperial draw bar.

Dave

Hi Dave,

I will ask H&F tomorrow what size the thread is - i lent my thread gauge and it hasn't been returned yet.

I appreciate the quick fix option - i didn't think of doing that )

Thanks for your help.

Chela

Just had a look at it on the H&F web site. Looks like a handy little machine and should give plenty of hours of enjoyment.

Do you have plans for making something?

Is the draw bar thread smaller larger or the same size as the collet chuck?
The bolts on these machines are usually metric could you take one out and try it in the chuck or do you have any other bolts laying around you could try?


Dave

Hi Dave,

I'm hoping to make a screwless vice and a quick change tool post and tool holders.

The thread looks smaller it sort of starts to go in a bit then stops. the hole looks the same size just the thread is different.

Yes, I can take a bolt off and have a look.

Thanks

Chela

When you find what thread it is just get a piece of treaded rod, cut it to length and plug weld a nut on it or buy a bolt the right length and use it with a washer. You could just take it into a place near you that sells bolts and threaded rod and they could find a piece of rod or bolt to suit the thread

Hi Chela,
It sounds like an imperial collet chuck. If it's the $250 or $270 6 piece kit, to save you some money I would take it back and get a refund and buy a complete set of 19 collets from CTC tools. I nearly bought my set from them when I bought my mill as well, I am glad I didn't because I got my set for half the price off ebay the following week.

A full set of ER32 with a MT3 collet chuck from them is only be $128 posted to you, which is have the price and you will have a full set.
While your their I would buy a few extra collet chucks (their only $16 each) so you can have different size cutters in each, it will save time changing them over all the time.
His postage is quick at around 14 days or less, and he is a good honest bloke to deal with.
ER32 MT3 COLLET CHUCK #A75

ER32 COLLET SET (19 PCS) #A07

With the scewless vice it's hard to go past this one on ebay for the price
63MM-2.5"QUICK ACTION PRECISION TOOLMAKERS' VISE (QKG) (eBay item 380293015085 end time 26-Dec-10 18:38:13 AEDST) : Industrial
It is nicely ground and hardened and comes in a timber box. A lot of forum members have been buying them.
Also at the price of the CDCO tool holders at $9, it would be hard to make them for that. A decent dovetail cutter will cost around $100 over here.

Dave

Edit
Forgot to add
I had a look at their site, and by the looks of it you have a 1/2 inch whitworth collet chuck, they sell both metric and this one.

Yep had the same isssue myself. As already suggested all I use is some theadded rod and a nut welded on. Hardest bit was looking thru all of the rod in the shop for the straightest bit I could find.

Chela,

You will probably end up with a selection of differently threaded drawbars depending on what tooling you buy. There doesn't seem to be any standardisation of drawbar threads for 3MT. I have tooling requiring 1/2X12 Whitworth, 12X1.75 metric, 10X1.5 metric and 3/8 Whitworth drawbars, and I know some tooling also uses 1/2X13 UNC drawbars, though I do not have any thing with this thread myself. As mentioned above, the threaded rod drawbars are cheap and work well.

Frank.

Gentlemen,

Thank you for the advice....looks like I'm doing some shopping for a bunch of threaded rod.

Dave, I appreciate the links - I must say I'm pleasantly surprised by the prices.

Did I mention I love this forum lol

Thanks again

Chela

Guys, I got the threaded rod and welded a nut on the end - works a treat, thank you

Dave J, I bought the recommended screwless vice as well as an AXA 100 type QCTP set from CDCO.

Just wondering if anybody has bought this tool post and how fitted it to the AL-280P.

Thanks

Chela

Chela,

Go back to this thread for threaded rod.

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/ur...y-soon-127049/

Ken

Hi Chela ,
No problems, glad I could help you out to get some gear cheaper.
I know a few guys have fitted those size tool posts, but not sure if it was to a lathe like yours, it might be worth a search of the forum.
Does yours have a T slot or a stud to bolt the standard one in place? Could you take a picture of it, as the website picture makes it hard to see the tool post mount.

Those vises are back up to $60 just like last time when I went to buy one. I know I will kick myself latter when they skyrocket in price if I don't get another one now.
What do you think of yours?

Not sure if you know, but CDCO will work with you to fill a flat rate box to get the best postage on your gear. They are the cheapest tool holders around anywhere.

Dave

Thanks neksmerj, I did see the thread when it was first posted but as I'm in Sydney and they are in Victoria i didn't look further.

Dave J, I'm very happy with the vice it's professionally made and looks great.

re: "Does yours have a T slot or a stud to bolt the standard one in place?"

The toolpost has a bolt with a large square bar screwed on the bottom which i guess is to be machined down to fit the T slot that my milling bed has.

CDCO is great, yes they are extremely competitive and their products are solid and well constructed, what worried me were the comments that were posted here about delivery delays from the US but to my surprise my order came through quicker than I expected and yes Frank did advise on the most economical way of shipping the goods.

Thoroughly recommend CDCO - based on my experience.

If your lathe has a T slot just machine the block down to suit.
This thread might help you out, start at post #162
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...2x36-.../page6
If your after any end mills face mills or other tooling, CTC has a good range and is a nice bloke to deal with as well. He has a cheaper range of cutters for doing softer metals and aluminum, instead of having to pay the price for the premium ones where their not really needed.

Dave