Endmill depth guage

These are simple tools to facilitate inserting your endmill to a precise depth in your collet.  Basically, you drop your endmill into the calibrated hole in the tool, shove the endmill into the collet and tighten.  Your endmill now extends exactly as far as you specified.  No more stooping to get a good look, no more guesswork.

I have provided STEP files (I HATE STL files - which are a PITA to modify).  You can either print the files as-is, or change the depth of the holes in your favorite CAD program to suit.  I usually use 3.175mm and 6mm endmills (of various flute lengths)

The second tool is just for 22mm flute length endmills.  I use this one most of the time.

The larger tool has different depths (as marked) ranging from 8mm to 22mm.  In each case, I've added 2mm to the depth to ensure the flutes clear the collet.  So the 22mm gauge actually inserts into the collet with 2mm additional stick-out - so as not to inadvertently clamp onto the flutes themselves.

Because these are STEP files, it is very easy to change both the diameter of the holes and their depth - and then print another tool to suit.

To print:
I used the following:
.2mm layer height
PLA
12% infill
Supports: The first tool - yes, but extremely easy to remove.  The second tool - no.

My printer: Qidi Plus4
Time: 23min/51min

Enjoy