D1-4 Backplates

[Robin GrahamParticipant @robingraham42208]

Hi. I need (or want at least) a D1-4 backplate to mount a lathe collet chuck. Warco and RDG sell them at around 55 quid, or Rotagrip do a TOS one at about 95. Anyone got any experience of the cheaper ones or general advice on (in)advisability of going that way?

Regards, Robin.

[Robin GrahamParticipant @robingraham42208]

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

.

Yes I have.

I bought a cheap one from RDG that is about as good as a chocolate fire guard. Never goes back spot on even though I have marked it so the same camlock spigot always returns to the hole it was originally machined in.

I now use it with a 4 jaw chuck on so it's not so much of a problem.

I bought a TOS one a couple of months ago for another chuck mounting project (from Rotagrip). That one is spot-on. i.e. goes back the same every time. Much nicer material to machine. – In short worth the extra coinage.

I have no idea where RDG source their stuff from but IMHO they need to start doing some quality control negotiations with them.

Here is a link to a video of a faceplate I also bought from them **LINK** that shows it was warped. It is also VERY out of balance.

Nick

[Robin GrahamParticipant @robingraham42208]

Thanks both for your info. Sounds like RDG is out then. The Gloster ones in John's link are even cheaper at 50 quid and if they're good enough for John, should be good enough for me…. but I think as I'm still feeling my way with this big (for me) new machine and don't really know what I can expect from it in terms of accuracy, I think I'll go for the TOS to reduce the number of variables. For example, after facing off the 10 inch faceplate supplied with the machine and replacing in the same orientation there's 0.05 mm total 'wobble' measuring on the face near the periphery. Whether that's good, bad or indifferent for a lathe of this class I have no idea. Certainly worse than my little bench top machine which is < 0.01 on a 6 inch flange mount faceplate, but that is billed as a 'precision' lathe.

Thanks again for your input, Robin.

[elanmanParticipant @elanman]

Yes I have a RDG one, as Nick said when supplied it did not refit true. This was due to the tapered bore being too small, had to scrape it out so that it fitted properly. I should have sent it back but it was easier to fix that problem than post it back.

I know not to buy another from them.

Cheers

John

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