This email tip was sponsored by Alibre.
by Aaron Kohler
Oddball-sized work? Do you not have the correct-sized collet? No problem! A split collet sleeve to the rescue. I have a 1-3/4″ collet I keep handy and a small supply of 1-3/4″ tubing, for just that kind of emergency where a properly sized collet isn’t on hand.
 |
Chuck up on the tubing (in the collet), bore to size (plus or minus .001″), part off, split (I use a band saw) and deburr. The sleeve may spring open a few thousandths, but no worries.
 |
Slip the sleeve over the work, insert it into the collet, align the split in the sleeve with one of the splits in the collet, and then draw the collet tight and machine your part. This has helped keep cost down and production going many times for me.
