Supposedly that particular collet style for the FF 230 is based on a Euro "standard" & given Proxxon is German, that would make perfect sense. Remember too this Mill design is quite old & so all of it's features (collets included) needed to be "backwards compatible" to all the earlier models, however Proxxon has just recently (late 2023) released an "upgraded" version FF 250/BL that features an ER 16 collet system as well as a variable motor like the better FF 500/BL uses. The variances within your speed tests could be explained by your motor being the 110V-60Hz version whereas Euro is 240V-50Hz I have the same FF 230 as you & being in Australia, we're 240V-50Hz & my speeds are very close to the "sticker". As others have already mentioned, that "wood" motor pulley is in fact a Phenolic/fibre composite.
I wish the now FF250/BL was available in the 120V market. You are correct about the speed differences, different motor. I also think their literature translation department needs a bit of attention as the speeds listed in the manual do not match the speeds on the decal.
@@RoomForTools I'm sure the FF 250/BL will be "USA compatible" in due course...my only concern with this FF 250/BL is its speed range doesn't go as low as our version, starting at 400 RPM is much too high for my current needs ...I like the much lower speed when using both a small boring head & fly cutter.
it could be cool to modify it to ER collet , spindle shaft for it look pretty simple , maybe its possible to find ER extension "rod" with same diameter and make it work
I have machined an ER16 adapter for this mill, it is rather straightforward to do if you also have a lathe - I, in fact, have PD250-PF230 combo. the main "trick" I used was to turn the M20x1.5 thread, then spin the blank on the spindle and mill-turn the OD in place to get it as concentric with the spindle as possible, then re-mount the blank in the 4-jaw chuck in the lathe, indicate it REALLY well and machine the rest of the features (16º included taper and M22x1.5 thread for the ER16A nut, which I bought separately). with that done, the tool runout is under 0.01mm with quality collets. another option would be to remove the spindle, open it up for the ER16 taper, and re-machine the thread for ER16M nut, which is M19x1.0. the existing M20x1.5 thread has 18.676mm minor diameter, so the new thread is going to look ugly, but I don't see why it won't work.
Always enjoy watching your videos. 👍 I think it's unlikely that the collets are proprietary. I imagine production costs would be too expensive for the relatively small numbers that proxxon sells. At a guess, they look like "EOC" or "OZ" series collets. 🙂
Always thought they were oz collets I have the full set of proxxon collets for this mill plus three imperial collets 1/8 - 1/4 - 3/8 all identical in outer dimensions they have a tiny notch at the rear end to identify as a/f nothing to do with proxxon i don't think
Supposedly that particular collet style for the FF 230 is based on a Euro "standard" & given Proxxon is German, that would make perfect sense. Remember too this Mill design is quite old & so all of it's features (collets included) needed to be "backwards compatible" to all the earlier models, however Proxxon has just recently (late 2023) released an "upgraded" version FF 250/BL that features an ER 16 collet system as well as a variable motor like the better FF 500/BL uses.
The variances within your speed tests could be explained by your motor being the 110V-60Hz version whereas Euro is 240V-50Hz
I have the same FF 230 as you & being in Australia, we're 240V-50Hz & my speeds are very close to the "sticker".
As others have already mentioned, that "wood" motor pulley is in fact a Phenolic/fibre composite.
I wish the now FF250/BL was available in the 120V market. You are correct about the speed differences, different motor. I also think their literature translation department needs a bit of attention as the speeds listed in the manual do not match the speeds on the decal.
@@RoomForTools I'm sure the FF 250/BL will be "USA compatible" in due course...my only concern with this FF 250/BL is its speed range doesn't go as low as our version, starting at 400 RPM is much too high for my current needs ...I like the much lower speed when using both a small boring head & fly cutter.
it could be cool to modify it to ER collet , spindle shaft for it look pretty simple , maybe its possible to find ER extension "rod" with same diameter and make it work
Usovo.de has spindle upgrades for the little MF70. I wish an ER collet spindle upgrade was available for this mill.
I have machined an ER16 adapter for this mill, it is rather straightforward to do if you also have a lathe - I, in fact, have PD250-PF230 combo. the main "trick" I used was to turn the M20x1.5 thread, then spin the blank on the spindle and mill-turn the OD in place to get it as concentric with the spindle as possible, then re-mount the blank in the 4-jaw chuck in the lathe, indicate it REALLY well and machine the rest of the features (16º included taper and M22x1.5 thread for the ER16A nut, which I bought separately). with that done, the tool runout is under 0.01mm with quality collets.
another option would be to remove the spindle, open it up for the ER16 taper, and re-machine the thread for ER16M nut, which is M19x1.0. the existing M20x1.5 thread has 18.676mm minor diameter, so the new thread is going to look ugly, but I don't see why it won't work.
Always enjoy watching your videos. 👍
I think it's unlikely that the collets are proprietary. I imagine production costs would be too expensive for the relatively small numbers that proxxon sells.
At a guess, they look like "EOC" or "OZ" series collets. 🙂
Thanks! Both EOC and OZ series have lips larger in diameter than the taper, and their taper angle is 5°44' included vs Proxxon's ~8°.
Always thought they were oz collets I have the full set of proxxon collets for this mill plus three imperial collets 1/8 - 1/4 - 3/8 all identical in outer dimensions they have a tiny notch at the rear end to identify as a/f nothing to do with proxxon i don't think
Pulley at 12:00 is made out of textolite, not wood :)
Yup. A quick image search reveals that textolite rod has rings, superficially looking like wood.
The FF400 and FF500 has ER collets.
I wish the FF500 was available in the 120V market. Hopefully some day.
The FF250 as well.
One of the reasons I went with that instead of the FF230. The higher rpm from the brushless motor was the other major reason.