Collet for 5/64" Drill Bit in DWP 611

[chipmaker]

Hello! Just like subject mentions I am trying to find a collet for my DWP 611 that will take a 5/64" drill bit. I got the collet kit from precisebits.com hoping I could use it in conjunction with a bit that was stepped down from a 1/8" shank. However, I need to drill through about 0.5" of material and cannot find a long enough specialty bit like that. A simple solution seems to be just putting a drill bit in there, but then I can't find a collet that will take 5/64". I am brand new, totally green, so maybe the solution is obvious. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone and looking forward to learning from you.

[cvoinescu]

Unless you have a large number of holes to make, this sounds like a job for a drill press. I don't think it's a good idea to even try a spiral drill bit, which is designed for low speed, into a high-speed spindle. You can use a V bit or a small endmill to mark the spots for drilling, then drill in the drill press.

[chipmaker]

Thanks, not a bad idea... but it is a pretty repetitive part and there will be many more like it. I need to be able to have it automated with no need for manual finishing at drill press. Maybe this is a new guy question, but do all ER11 collets work in the DWP611? I found this link, but I have no idea if it will be compatible:

http://www.mscdirect.com/product/detail ... 1&fromRR=Y

It shows a range from 0.0394 to 0.079, and the bit I need to use is 0.078... so if that fits the DWP611, it would work right?

[WillAdams]

To use an ER-style collet in a DWP611 you'll need a custom collet from the Precise Bits folks:

http://www.precisebits.com/products/equ ... 1_kits.asp

Not sure what the exact compatibility is. Expanded the wiki a bit. http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/ ... s_and_Nuts

[chipmaker]

I spoke with precisebits.com but they don't have anything that takes that small of a shank. I went ahead and ordered that collet I posted from MSC Direct, hoping that it will work. I'll try it out in the name of science and let you guys know if it fits. Thanks for the help, and one last question: with the exception of the hole that accommodates the tool, do all ER11 collets share the same outer dimensions? Or are there at least some dimensions on an ER11 collet that are universal?

[DanMc]

I second cvoinescu's concern about spiral drills in a tool like the DWP 611. I had zero luck trying to run 1/8" spiral bits in my 300w spindle at around 8k rpm. They just snap. Not saying you shouldn't try, but have a few on hand and be prepared for disappointment.

[jacob32123]

I second cvoinescu's concern about spiral drills in a tool like the DWP 611. I had zero luck trying to run 1/8" spiral bits in my 300w spindle at around 8k rpm. They just snap. Not saying you shouldn't try, but have a few on hand and be prepared for disappointment.

That's odd. I've drilled hundreds of holes with a standard 1/8 cobalt stub length drill bit using my DW611 at speeds ranging from 1-4 on its dial in HDPE, aluminum (up to 1/2in thick), delrin, and even stainless steel with no issues. What kind of a plunge rate are you using?

[Hans]

Anyone who's bought from drillman1 on ebay has probabaly seen the ridiculously thin PCB drills he sells. Drills for specialty applications go all the way down to a couple thousandths diameter. Obviously, you can't have a couple thousandths runout drilling a couple thousanths hole. Tiny drills actually need to be run at high RPMs to reach the appropriate surface speed for whatever material -- the only problem you should face is runout.

[Woodworker]

Am I am missing something, why can't you just "pocket" the holes with a mill.

[WillAdams]

End mills w/ the necessary length and diameter aren’t readily available.