spindle adapter question

[CNC Darren]

Hi all,
I need some help trying to figure out if it is possable to find an adapter to make a MT3 mill spindle in to an R-8. Why? well my dad has a Smithy cb1220xl that I now do all my work on. However I intend to buy a Sieg x3 in early 2006, it uses R-8. I have a project comming up and have been looking for some more tooling but hate to buy MT3 tooling when i'll will eventually have a machine with a R-8 spindle. So i would like to adapt the smithy to R-8 and use that style of tooling. I did notice the new granite line of smithys are R-8 however the dimentions of the spindle are different from one machine to the other. I have looked but so far come up empty.

Anyone have some good news for me?

Darren

oops wrong forum, could a moderator move this to the general metal working forum, sorry....

[Com]

You could just buy mt3 tooling and use an r8 to mt3 adapter sleeve http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...sPageName=WD1V

Im sure they must make an mt3 to r8 adapter though, ebay is probably your best bet.

[ViperTX]

I suspect that an MT3 to R8 is not readily available has to do with the size of the MT3 in relation to the R8 which I'm sure is larger in diameter. I checked the ENCO catalog and didn't fine one. If you R8 tooling has removable adaptors then you could use a MT3 to straight shaft adaptor (like an end mill holder).

[MikeAber]

ViperTX, take a look at the TORMACH tooling system. They have an MT3 collet and an R8 collet for the line of 3/4" shank tool holders. You will probably want quick change tooling anyway if you have plans to CNC the X3 in the future. I've been using their tooling system for about 18 months now for manual operations without any problems.
It's nice to have tooling set up to do a series of operations without the need to raise or lower the mill head, then need to re-zero. LittleMachineShop.com stocks these items.

[sch]

http://www15.brinkster.com/candgresearch/
Select the item "Z spindle" on the left hand side of the page. The 1220xl is pretty close to the Shoptask 17-20 this mod was originally designed forand should be modifiable in the same way. Removing the spindle is not too hard. Turn around is a week or so from reports by satisfied customers.
Steve