I just registered and this is my first post. I've been reading for awhile and using the search function.
I have had my mini lathe now for about 4 months and I've used the heck out of it. I started a little business making custom length standoffs for mounting engines and motors to RC planes.
I have decided that two things I need to invest in now are a DRO for the main left/right movement and a collet chuck. Sorry, I don't know all the correct terminology yet.
Regarding the collet adapter:
Looking at LMS, the ER32 collet chuck adapter looks like the perfect solution. I have seen the C5 chuck conversions using the Bison chuck and that would be even better because I have access to a bunch of C5 collets but it is too expensive for me. Having said that, I'm still a little reluctant to shell out $200 to LMS for their ER32 collet chuck plus the adapter plate plus collets.
How difficult would it be to make the collet adapter and just buy the $20 nut? I would have to learn how to thread on my lathe first but I need to do that sometime anyway. I know the inside has some kind of taper and I can probably figure that out. Are there dimensions or a drawing of some kind availble?
Should I just buy the LMS adapter and be done with it?
Regarding the DRO:
I found this one
T24361 12" Stainless Steel Remote Digital Readout
and it seems to be the most accurate option without going to the $600 range. I want something that has a remote display instead of hacking up calipers and having the display down where the slide is located. Accuracy is important. I have been making my standoffs to within about 0.002" (on average) on length but it's taking me a long time. I face each end until I get the exact length that I want. Face, take it out, measure, put it back in, face again, measure, etc. I figure that if I have a way to move the whole carriage precisely then I can just part it to length and it will save me a whole bunch of time. Not to mention that once I get it cut to length, I then drill a hole through the center and then I install it on a home made arbor that is chucked in the 3-jaw, part is held in place with a nut, and the other end of the arbor is supported by a live center. I started doing things this way because I didn't have any measurements on the left/right movement on the lathe so this was my solution.
That plan also relates back to the collet adapter since I mostly use .75" round stock and with the stock 3-jaw chuck, I can't pass it through the lathe but with the ER32 collet, I can use a longer piece and just use my parting tool to cut my parts off of it to the exact length.
Can someone offer any suggestions?
thanks
Craig