Boss5 Collets

[frog]

I am having a time trying to figure out what type of collet my machine takes, I am used to the r8 or c5, this is something completely different, does anyone have any ideas?

[unterhaus]

I have some ideas, possibly wrong. BP used NMTB 30, NMTB 40, and Universal Kwik Switch. With a tool changer, CAT tooling is most common, but I don't know if bridgeport used it.

[gus]

if it has no drawbar it is probably universal quick switch, no 'collets' just toolholders, which can be collet holders. knurled collar with vertical grooves for wrench and 2 recesses for the 2 tabs on the holder is kwik switch

[Dennis Storzek]

If it looks like this:

http://www.jlindustrial.com/EQC-1818.../product.html#

It's Erickson QC 30 Quick Change. It has the same taper as NMTB 30, but the locking collar is different. People have said that NMTB 30 holders will work if retained by a brawbar.

If the holders have tangs sticking out, rather than notches in the collar, like the chuck mandral in this E-bay auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kwik-Change-200-...QQcmdZViewItem

It's Univerasl Kwick Switch 200. This is a unque taper, IIRC, and is hard to find.

Anybody still using these? I have a tool presetter equipped with one of these that I'd like to sell. PM me for details.

[sdeminie]

I just bought this machine with only the pictures and description and the print says it is a kwik-switch 30 spindle taper. My brother told me I should have stayed with an R8 spindle setup. The machine (1994 bridgeport series 1) won't arrive here for about 10 days so I would like to know where to start on collets and holders. This is my first post and I would appreciate any help. Thank you.

[machintek]

Your brother should be smart enough to also tell you that this machine never came with a R8 spindle.

George

[sdeminie]

When I said that my brother told me I should have stayed with and R8 setup he meant I should have only bought a machine with an R8 spindle. He said the Qc30 tool holders are 500.00 and up each and the collets are a pain in the butt. I did find a brand new R8 spindle with new upper and lower bearings for 289.00 online. My brother did say that he had never seen a machine come new with a QC30 spindle that it might be an R8 to QC30 adapter. The parts house that I found the replacement spindle listed the Qc30 spindle as and option. I appreciate the help. I ran a bridgeport series 2 machine at a small production shop in the mid 70's for several months and I have not worked in a machine shop since then. I just purchased a south bend lathe and this bridgeport mill yesterday for my home shop. Thank you.

[cnc Rookie]

With due respect......why would want to change to a r8 set up?
I've been running a kwik change set up and would not want any thing else IMHO. These type holders are better than money in the bank. Get signed up on ebay. They are readily available there for a fraction of what brand new costs. Even brand new I've never seen them go for $500 each!
I think your brother is just jealous because you picked up a nice clean looking machine!

Good luck in your search.........

[unterhaus]

I wished I had an R8 spindle because it was so much more work to get the other tooling, but now that I have all the tooling I need, I am glad that I didn't.
For one thing, my machine is so tall, I can't reach the drawbar.

It just takes patience. If you buy new tooling from Enco or similar places, you can get most holders for less than $100. On ebay, sets often go for around that price.