The #38 spring is to preload the cam, so the assembly doesn’t flop around too much when the #11 arm is released. For mine, I have the spring between #36 and #31. I think a spring in both locations would be an advantage.
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Craig's Craftex CX706 Comes Clean
- Thread starter trlvn
- Start date
trlvn
Ultra Member
One of my 'maybe-one-day' plans has been to add a collet chuck to this lathe. Finding the correct backing plate to adapt from the spindle nose to the chuck has stymied me. Previously.
BusyBee, in their Christmas in July sale, was offering an adaptor plate for the CX615 (lathe/mill combo machine). It turns out it also fits my CX706 (10 X 22). Here are 2 views of it on my lathe:
I found that the threaded holes for the mounting studs are different. The CX706 chucks come with M10 threaded studs but the pre-drilled holes in this adaptor plate are M8. I've use a simple M8 bolt as a mock-up above. The adaptor plate does not come with any mounting studs at all.
To work around this, the adaptor plate could be drilled out and re-threaded for M10. Or, I could make a custom set of studs with M8 on one side and M10 on the other. I think I'll go the latter direction since I'm going to need studs anyway.
For comparison, the picture below is the CX615 plate compared to the CX706 face plate.
I paid $127 plus HST for the plate but the sale ends tomorrow (August 3, 2025) when it will go back up by over $30. I probably could have gotten a slice of Durabar for maybe a little less money. It would not have been easy to handle on a machine of my size.
Now I can start looking for a decent collet chuck!
Craig
(Also attached a couple of picture of the bare spindle nose for those curious.)
BusyBee, in their Christmas in July sale, was offering an adaptor plate for the CX615 (lathe/mill combo machine). It turns out it also fits my CX706 (10 X 22). Here are 2 views of it on my lathe:
I found that the threaded holes for the mounting studs are different. The CX706 chucks come with M10 threaded studs but the pre-drilled holes in this adaptor plate are M8. I've use a simple M8 bolt as a mock-up above. The adaptor plate does not come with any mounting studs at all.
To work around this, the adaptor plate could be drilled out and re-threaded for M10. Or, I could make a custom set of studs with M8 on one side and M10 on the other. I think I'll go the latter direction since I'm going to need studs anyway.
For comparison, the picture below is the CX615 plate compared to the CX706 face plate.
I paid $127 plus HST for the plate but the sale ends tomorrow (August 3, 2025) when it will go back up by over $30. I probably could have gotten a slice of Durabar for maybe a little less money. It would not have been easy to handle on a machine of my size.
Now I can start looking for a decent collet chuck!
Craig
(Also attached a couple of picture of the bare spindle nose for those curious.)
Attachments
Proxule
Ultra Member
Nice work. I opted for an aliexpress chuck and a amazon D1-4 backing plate.
I have if memory serves me right - 0.005mm TIR. Or was that .001mm....
Here is the link for the collet chuck. quality is top notch for 70$ shipped !
I just found this on AliExpress:
C$18.78 | ER16 ER50 ER25 ER32 125 ER40 chuck 100mm 80mm Mini Flange Four Axis cartridge Collet Fixture Chuck For CNC Milling Lathe Tool
a.aliexpress.com
The register on my backing plate was machined for a snug fit and thus my TIR is superb. 1 project done. 93748 left lol.
Gluck to you !
I have if memory serves me right - 0.005mm TIR. Or was that .001mm....
Here is the link for the collet chuck. quality is top notch for 70$ shipped !
I just found this on AliExpress:
C$18.78 | ER16 ER50 ER25 ER32 125 ER40 chuck 100mm 80mm Mini Flange Four Axis cartridge Collet Fixture Chuck For CNC Milling Lathe Tool
ER16 ER50 ER25 ER32 125 ER40 chuck 100mm 80mm Mini Flange Four Axis cartridge Collet Fixture Chuck For CNC Milling Lathe Tool
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
a.aliexpress.com
The register on my backing plate was machined for a snug fit and thus my TIR is superb. 1 project done. 93748 left lol.
Gluck to you !
Nice progress!
Before you get too far down the road you should try to decide if you want a 5C chuck or an ER and if the latter, then what size?
DPittman
Ultra Member
Well you can easily add a morse taper collet holder at any point.
trlvn
Ultra Member
Can you link to an example? My spindle taper is MT4 so won't hold a 5C collet inside...
Craig
DPittman
Ultra Member
This is a MT3 one off Amazon.
Acouto Er32 Collet Set T3 Er32 MTA3 Morse Taper Collet Chuck Holder Carbon Steel CNC Milling Lathe Parts M12 for Milling Chuck : Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement
Acouto Er32 Collet Set T3 Er32 MTA3 Morse Taper Collet Chuck Holder Carbon Steel CNC Milling Lathe Parts M12 for Milling Chuck : Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement
a.co
MT3 tends to be popular but I imagine MT4 is available too. Ali Express is also a good place for such.
DPittman
Ultra Member
Sorry i should have put a bit more effort into looking for a better link for you. My excuse is I'm distracted.
Acouto Er32 Collet Set T3 Er32 MTA3 Morse Taper Collet Chuck Holder Carbon Steel CNC Milling Lathe Parts M12 for Milling Chuck : Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement
Acouto Er32 Collet Set T3 Er32 MTA3 Morse Taper Collet Chuck Holder Carbon Steel CNC Milling Lathe Parts M12 for Milling Chuck : Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement
a.co
That's what I have and I love it. You have prolly heard me say that my 5C Collet chuck lives on my lathe more than all my other chucks combined.
As you prolly know, the 5C is best done with a full collet chuck that handles the 5C collet threads directly. Ya, you can do a custom MT4 collet holder but then you need a drawbar. It's just easier with a chuck.
If you decide you want an ER system later, you can adapt a drawbar for the holder and then just use the collet nut when changing collets.
If you already have the 5C collets, it's just a matter of adding the chuck which is where you were when you started this thread....
Throwing up distractions is one of my worst character flaws. Sorry about that... .
lucsimoneau
Super User
Was just in the process of putting it back together and found that the adjustment of the nut is hyper critical to get the eccentric lever to work properly. Was kinda wondering if I was missing a part or something and I remembered that I had read someone else's take on this machine and came across your post. Geessh, wonder who design this thing, seems like a chance in a million to make it work. Anyways, I've modeled it up in CAD if interested. Cheers!!!!
Mine is the same way. I believe it's in the nature of an eccentric clamp to be very sensitive to the position of the nut.
I have access from the right side so small hands are not required.
lucsimoneau
Super User
Just for the record, the following part is not mentioned in the parts list in the CX706 manual, but I guess it's on every machine:
Unless I can't read the manual right 🙂
Unless I can't read the manual right 🙂
Not mine. If it exists on other machines, I've never noticed it. That should make adjusting the cam over easy.
trlvn
Ultra Member
I have that part. My manual shows an M10 washer in that position (#25, page 35) rather than the beefy rectangular piece that is actually there.
@Susquatch that nut doesn't help the cam over at all. It will defeat the cam over if you crank it down, however. That was what my post a year ago was trying to document. It is the nut underneath that gets you in the locking range.
BTW, do the photos in my old post display for you guys? I get about 40% of each photo:
I remember the software problems with the board. Just checking if these photos are still broken for everyone.
Craig
@Susquatch that nut doesn't help the cam over at all. It will defeat the cam over if you crank it down, however. That was what my post a year ago was trying to document. It is the nut underneath that gets you in the locking range.
BTW, do the photos in my old post display for you guys? I get about 40% of each photo:
I remember the software problems with the board. Just checking if these photos are still broken for everyone.
Craig
As I understand it, the photo itself is damaged. It doesn't matter how it is viewed. The only way to fix it it to reload the photos.
I see. That's too bad. I wonder if there is a way to modify the system so it can do that. If so, it would be a great feature.
BaronJ
Ultra Member
Hi Guys,
Loosening the nut and using the Allen screws on either side will allow you to set over the tailstock. The clamp lever should lock the tailstock down. If that nut is too tight you won't be able to move the tailstock at all. It only needs to be tight enough for the clamp lever to work.
Loosening the nut and using the Allen screws on either side will allow you to set over the tailstock. The clamp lever should lock the tailstock down. If that nut is too tight you won't be able to move the tailstock at all. It only needs to be tight enough for the clamp lever to work.
What allen screws?
BaronJ
Ultra Member
The ones on either side of the base.