On 2008-02-03, Carl Boyd wrote:
All

I just finished making 4 spacers, 3/8" diameter, 3/8" long, with a .144"
axial hole. I didn't see any way to catch them without getting in a
dangerous place. 1st one dropped in the swarf in the chip tray and I never
did find it. So I cleaned out the chip tray and let them drop down. Only 1
of the 4 was easy to find and reach. There has got to be a better way, what
is it?

Put a smaller rod (say 1/8") in the tailstock drill chuck and
run it 3/4 of the way into the workpiece after the hole is drilled, This
should control the workpiece when it parts off.

I've also held a metal mesh basket under the spindle to catch
workpieces parted off from stock held in a collet. This would be more
dangerous with a chuck, with the jaws flying past. With the right size
mesh, the chips from the parting off fall through, but the parts don't.

Enjoy,
DoN.

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