Collet for very small drill bits

[Rookie]

Hi all,

I have a Proxxon Micromot 230/E. The smallest collet is too wide to take very small drill bits (0.3 mm). Does anyone know of a third party brand collet that fits the 230/E?

I realise there is a big chance of breaking the small drill bits in a high speed devise, but I have some upcoming work fir which I want to use the 230/E in combination with the Proxxon cross side table:

https://cdn.axminstertools.com/media/catalog/product/cache/6aa9e1e59bcc5998e1687ab5ba3e27a4/7/0/702050_xl.jpg

Cheers,
Willem

[uncletony]

Use .3mm bits from DBU. All the shafts are a uniform size (~1/8”) and will fit in any drill collet. I would not use a .3mm HSS drill bit in a machine, ever.

[pepperman42]

The slightest side pressure will shear that bit clean off.

Steve

[Davos522]

Wow, Willem, that's ambitious! I have no experience with anything but hand-drilling (with the Acalox 201 mini-grinder, per Sandy's advice) at that size, but you might want to check in with Kensar, who if I remember correctly was using #85/0.011" bits in his bench-top mill a few weeks ago to cross-drill the 0.6mm aluminum-tube attachment points in the rigging on his Strutter.

Dutch

[Rookie]

Thank you Bo, Steve and Dutch for you comments.

@ Bo

I know of these bits, but the shipping cost to Europe are prohibitive, and I haven't been able to source the same quality with a 1/8th inch shank on this side of the pond.


@ Steve

I thought of that, and in my heart I know you are right. It won't matter if the shank was 1/64 inch or 1/8 inch

@ Dutch

I looked at Kensar's build log but the build log shows he uses drills with a 1/8 inch shank too.


I'm afraid I will have to come up with a better idea...

Cheers
Willem

[IanB]

No, you won't. I can't remember the brand right now, I'll check when I get home. Drills are available that will hold a .3mm jobber bit, I use it myself.

Ian

[Rookie]

Thanks Ian, much appreciated!

Willem

[IanB]

This is what I use.
https://www.starrett.com/products/precision-shop-tools/pin-vises-sets

I doubt very much you'll find a power drill collott this small.

Ian

[Rookie]

Thank you all guys.

I finally found what I was looking for in this older thread:

https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=13745.15

via the link in Reply #24 by Berman.



I fear Steve is right but I'm going to try it anyway 

To be continued...

Cheers,
Willem

[Scaleber]

eBay couldn't resolve the link for me, can you post some details here wrt what you got? Thanks / Ian

[Rookie]

Ian, I have the same problem with the link. When I posted it, it worked just fine. What I make of it, the offer has ended. Sorry abour that.

However, I did find exactly what I need: a chuck for my Proxxon Micromot.

Again, closer to home than I thought:

https://www.proxxon.com/en/micromot/tools-accessories.php?search#28941

Cheers,
Willem

[Scaleber]

Ian, I have the same problem with the link. When I posted it, it worked just fine. What I make of it, the offer has ended. Sorry abour that.

However, I did find exactly what I need: a chuck for my Proxxon Micromot.

Again, closer to home than I thought:

https://www.proxxon.com/en/micromot/tools-accessories.php?search#28941

Cheers,
Willem

Brilliant, thanks / Ian

[kensar]

Late to the party - sorry.
I have one of the chucks pictured, but the quality is not where it needs to be - bits are off-centered.
That being the case, I use the carbide bits in a mill or drill press whenever possible.  Use a high speed and don't drill in too far each stroke to prevent breaking the bits.

Good luck!

[Rookie]

This came in the mail today. It goes on my Proxxon Micromit 12/E.

It is mounted with a regular chuck still in the shaft. The new chuck has a spring system that closes the claws of the chuck as it is screwed on:











My 0.3mm drill bit fits snug between the claws. In this picture the drill is spinning. It is perfectly centered and doesn’t wobble:



Here is a setup ready to go:







I managed to drill a 3 mm hole in this brass plate. Gently easing down in several strokes, every time a little further.
I was expecting (as Steve did) that the drill would break instantly but to my surprise it didn’t.
This went much better that I anticipated and I am very pleased with the result:



The only issue I have with Proxxon tools is that the pins of the connector tend to stay in the power supply when pull it out….:



But overall, I’m a happy man!