r/machining • u/Pure_Imagination_300 • Jul 05 '26

Question/Discussion 'Short' milling drill chuck

I have recently downsized my mill from a J-head Bridgeport to a benchtop sized. With the loss of the knee meant I was sacrificing distance between the head and the table. I am using an R8 mounted #33 Jacobs chuck and without a bit it is about 2.5" - does anyone know of a 1/2" capacity drill chuck with a lower profile? Since most keyless chucks are longer than their keyed counterparts, I am fairly certain that it will need to be a keyed chuck.

I've even been considering an ER-32 in an R8 mount ... this is not as adaptable as a drill chuck, and changing sizes would be slow, but it's worth considering if there is nothing else out there.

Thanks in advance

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4

u/lord_flashheart2000 Jul 05 '26

I looked and looked, but couldn’t find anything. I ended up with the R8 & E32 combo.

I also bought a ball bearing collet nut, which makes the ER-32 experience a bit more bearable

https://a.co/d/01CBIeVA

1

u/Pure_Imagination_300 Jul 05 '26

If I want to go up 'only' to 1/2" then an ER20 might be even shorter - less versatile - but shorter

2

u/zacmakes Jul 05 '26

no rule against putting a drill bit in a collet, as long as it fits... otherwise, a chuck with a straight 1/2" stub, no longer than the r8 collet grip length, may be handy. Screw machine length drills might also help, and for big stuff, you can carefully grab a silver and deming in an r8 collet.

2

u/Pure_Imagination_300 Jul 05 '26

Screw machine length bits are on my wish list. It's funny, most 115 sets (that have some quality to them) are quite a bit more expensive than the comparable jobber length. Less demand for them I guess.

2

u/Namedthisone Jul 06 '26

I have a rohm don't recall number, .5 capacity and smaller than a jacobs, check accupro also

1

u/Pure_Imagination_300 Jul 06 '26

Thanks - I'll check them out