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Drill press chuck testing.

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Drill press chuck testing.

#1

Drill press chuck testing.

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

I replaced the Nova Voyager chuck (which is actually a cheapish Chinese-made keyed chuck), with a 13mm keyless Albrecht clone I have used for several years. I had good results with this in my previous drill press, and was wondering whether to upgrade it or not (keeping in mind that a new Albrecht chuck is $500-$900). Consequently, I completed some run out tests for it.

I must comment ahead that this test is rather rudimentary. It does not assess the Nova's accuracy, which I decided is more than likely to be of the highest order since it is direct drive and claimed to be vibration-free (it certainly feels so). It does not assess the Albrecht clone directly either. What it does is assess the entire enchilada - if that shows an issue, then I will backtrack.

Set up ...


I used a polished 1/4" shank carbide router bit as the test piece. This is as smooth and hopefully as round a rod as I have in the shop. This was a one-time test, so I may have had better results from another router bit, or from re-positioning it. It is what it is ...


Results ...


This reads 0.045mm run out. That is 0.0017" run out. Is that good or bad?

My understanding is: there is run out that may occur with the spindle, then there is run out that will occur at the chuck and quill (which could also be measured separately), and finally there is the run out measured at the bit. The results here are a total of all these together. It was mentioned to me that around 5 thousands of an inch would be acceptable. I have 1 thousand inch.

Apparently Albrecht guarantees their chucks to have .0015" run out or less. I think I am okay :)

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: Drill press chuck testing.

#2

Re: Drill press chuck testing.

Virgil Johnson

This reads 0.045mm run out. That is 0.0017" run out. Is that good or bad?

I'd call that good. A quick check of the Jacobs chuck on my mid 1970's Craftsperson drill press checks .007 and I don't notice it. I'll have some Albretch data Monday and post deadblow mallet adjustment of the Craftsperson as well.

Re: Drill press chuck testing.

#3

Re: Drill press chuck testing.

John in NM

On a drill press, I would call 0.0017" excellent. For typical woodworking activities you'll see vastly more error due to bit flex than runout.

Re: Drill press chuck testing.

#4

Ellis Walentine

Hmm

Ellis Walentine

Another variable is the side load on the drill bit. I still have my grandfather's old Buffalo drill press, and it drills a pretty straight hole as long as there aren't too many side-deflection factors going on, like hard summer growth rings or knots.

I'm not sure how much side load you're applying with your dial indicator, but it would be interesting to see if the results change any with increased or decreased loading.

Ellis

Re: Drill press chuck testing.

#5

Re: Drill press chuck testing.

Brian from monument colorado

Not that the runout measure you have is bad, it actually is quite good, but you might try another bit to see if you are measuring the bit straightness or runout. IE my question is how straight and true is your bit?

Re: Drill press chuck testing.

#6

And the winner is..

Virgil Johnson

Your Nova outperforms our Bridgeport at work. .001 on the 1/2" R8 collet using a 1/2 edge finder shank. .0025 with a 3/8 edge finder in the chuck . The chuck I used is a 25-30 yr old Abretch 3/8 capacity with a 1/2" shank.

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