ISO chuck for Emco compact 5

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Adirondack
Posts: 410
Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2011 6:59 pm
Location: southern CT

ISO chuck for Emco compact 5

Post by Adirondack »

Hi folks. I'm looking for a 3 or 4 jaw chuck with reversible jaws for my new Emco Compact 5 CNC PC. I need to turn wheels up to 3.5" in diameter, and the stock non-reversible chuck can't handle it.

I found a suitable chuck in the UK, but shipping is almost the same cost as the chuck itself. I'm hoping someone might have a spare here in the states.

Thanks

Chris
Adirondack Car & Foundry
Check out our projects: https://www.facebook.com/ADKrail/
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A little locomotive with 4 wheels on the track is a lot more fun
than a 1/2 finished one with 16 wheels on the bench!
FKreider
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Re: ISO chuck for Emco compact 5

Post by FKreider »

Chris,

What type of spindle mount does the Emco Compact 5 use? I suggest you purchase a new "plain back" chuck and have someone make you a back plate with the correct spindle mount. I'm betting it will be better and possibly cheaper in the long run.
-Frank K.
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Adirondack
Posts: 410
Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2011 6:59 pm
Location: southern CT

Re: ISO chuck for Emco compact 5

Post by Adirondack »

FKreider wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2020 7:10 pm Chris,

What type of spindle mount does the Emco Compact 5 use? I suggest you purchase a new "plain back" chuck and have someone make you a back plate with the correct spindle mount. I'm betting it will be better and possibly cheaper in the long run.
It is some kind of wacky Emco mount. I'm not sure what to tell someone to make for me, hence the "just buy the right one" mentality of mine. LOL

Chris
Adirondack Car & Foundry
Check out our projects: https://www.facebook.com/ADKrail/
Visit our ALL-NEW online store: https://adirondackcarfoundry.square.site/

A little locomotive with 4 wheels on the track is a lot more fun
than a 1/2 finished one with 16 wheels on the bench!
sch
Posts: 277
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2003 7:51 pm

Re: ISO chuck for Emco compact 5

Post by sch »

Pix of EMCO 5 spindle at lathes.com: http://www.lathes.co.uk/emco/page3.html
Seems like it would not be hard to duplicate the bolt pattern on a back plate.
FKreider
Posts: 338
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2018 8:44 pm
Location: Massachusetts

Re: ISO chuck for Emco compact 5

Post by FKreider »

sch wrote: Sat Jun 06, 2020 4:52 pm Pix of EMCO 5 spindle at lathes.com: http://www.lathes.co.uk/emco/page3.html
Seems like it would not be hard to duplicate the bolt pattern on a back plate.
I suspect that the bore on the back of the mounting plate would need to be machined to a very close slip-fit tolerance to your spindle. I suspect this is the only way a chuck can be made concentric with that type of "bolted-on" mounting system. Still, would be very easy to do.
-Frank K.
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Adirondack
Posts: 410
Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2011 6:59 pm
Location: southern CT

Re: ISO chuck for Emco compact 5

Post by Adirondack »

FKreider wrote: Tue Jun 09, 2020 5:01 pm
sch wrote: Sat Jun 06, 2020 4:52 pm Pix of EMCO 5 spindle at lathes.com: http://www.lathes.co.uk/emco/page3.html
Seems like it would not be hard to duplicate the bolt pattern on a back plate.
I suspect that the bore on the back of the mounting plate would need to be machined to a very close slip-fit tolerance to your spindle. I suspect this is the only way a chuck can be made concentric with that type of "bolted-on" mounting system. Still, would be very easy to do.
Some specs:
Chuck Diameter 80mm
Through Bore 19mm
Mounting Recess Diameter 63.5mm
PCD of Mounting Holes 71.3mm

Unfortunately, I lack the facilities to make this adapter, and I cannot locate one for sale.

Chris
Adirondack Car & Foundry
Check out our projects: https://www.facebook.com/ADKrail/
Visit our ALL-NEW online store: https://adirondackcarfoundry.square.site/

A little locomotive with 4 wheels on the track is a lot more fun
than a 1/2 finished one with 16 wheels on the bench!
wewilliams
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Re: ISO chuck for Emco compact 5

Post by wewilliams »

I may have a source soon
pete
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Re: ISO chuck for Emco compact 5

Post by pete »

While I've got 2 of what Emco called heavy duty Compact 5 3 jaw chucks with the reversible jaws, a HD 4 jaw scroll, there 4 jaw independent, and the OEM face plate I sure don't want to sell any. But if I didn't have those? A little boot strapping would get you everything you need to both make a new back plate to fit a plain back chuck and mark the PDC of the bolt holes. I'm assuming you don't have a mill with a small rotary table or dividing head? So start out building an EXACT for diameter copy of the spindle nose,that's now your master gauge to use when boring the next item to make the back plate your wanting. And if your smart you'll keep it protected and as long as you own the lathe. Build a face plate to fit your lathe, step out where you want slots and how many with a pair of dividers set for the chord distance with a pair of dial or digital caliper, use the lathe to scribe the inner and outer ending points of those slots. Bore the spindle recess to size using your previously made gauge. Drill a row of almost intersecting holes in each area those slots will be with a drill press, no DP? then use center punch marks and a hand drill. Finish by squaring up the slots and to size with a hack saw and file, use the calipers, dividers and lathe to mark out the 3 bolt holes at the correct PCD for attaching it to the spindle. Drill and counter bore for the shcs Emco uses.Bolt that to the spindle and make a facing cut to true it square to the head stock.

Now use that to hold your soon to be back plate by drilling and tapping the rough back plate so bolts from the back side of the face plate can be used to attach it to that. Repeat what you did to bore for the spindle diameter and mark out the spindle bolt PCD on the back plate. Once that can be bolted to the lathes spindle nose then face it and finish the O.D. to fit the plain back chucks recess and the PCD required by that chuck to bolt the back plate to the chuck. Yes it's a bit of work, but Emco ain't making what you want anymore and haven't for quite some time. Or even simpler, I'd just make the face plate and use that to turn your wheels if drilled and tapped holes can be tolerated in them. If it's something like for a locomotive? Then it's even easier since bolts through the spoke openings and tapped strap clamps can be used. Before 3 jaw scroll chucks were invented 4 jaw independent chucks and face plates were used, before that face plates and turning between centers were the only other methods. Chucks are in reality a convenience today and most definitely not an absolute requirement. What worked 200 years ago or more works just as well today. We got to the technological level were at today by just boot strapping our way upwards. There's other methods to make that face plate and this is just one of them, it mostly depends on what else you have available.
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