Solid Tool Post Mount Project
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- Here I have a crack at making a solid tool post mount to replace the compound slide on my lathe. It's a bit more tricky than the usual project due to the tapered mounting thing that my lathe uses. It involves some turning, milling and a ridiculous amount of hacksawing.
Delightful irony of needing the taper cutting capability of the compound to make a rigid replacement - for the compound!
That happens all the time on a lathe. Once you have a mill too, it happens even more.
A lot of times with small machines, the first thing you need is more rigidity. You can acquire that on a floppy machine by taking small cuts with sharp tools, on big chunks of metal. When you have your stiffer parts, you can make more stiffer parts faster. A virtuous circle fueled by careful work.
Nice upgrade. This will be much better.
And I'm sure you've double sized biceps now after hacksawing that part :)
Thanks! I certainly didn't bother going to the gym that day!
Nice work. As for the handle being in the wrong position, tighten the nut (handle) then back it off, put the handle where you want it, using feeler gauges measure under the nut then turn a washer that thickness. Problem solved.
Thanks for the tip! I did make a 1mm washer to get the handle pointing the right way, but when installed it didn't fix the problem. After some confusion, I realised I just had the T-nut the wrong way round!
Beauty
Love the Boxford
Cheers
Thanks! They are great little lathes!
Simple and effective 👍
I've done something similar. Now imagine also deleting the tool post for functions like parting (mounting the parting blade directly in a solid post like this); boring (round boring bar in a hole drilled through a tall solid post cylinder like you made, just by advancing it toward the cutter in a chuck); etc.
On my list is to build a rear tool post, which I imagine would be a big chunk of metal, like you describe. I'm not sure I could live without a quick change toolpost!
I've done this. I really pays on a small lathe. I don't even have my compound mounted unless I need it, and a cutoff tool (pointed down from behind as on a Sherline lathe) is always mounted. I cut a clamping feature in a 2" x 2" block of steel, welded to a 2" x 3/4" foot, bolted to the back of the cross slide, which holds the cutoff tool flush with the spindle-facing surface of the holder. Now I can cut off right at the jaws. I love it!
For the most common tools, I could see a common 4-way toolpost in the rear, with tools inverted. Then you could use your quick change in front, for the special features. That's a new idea to me. Thanks for the inspiration! @@PaulsGarageProjects
What grade of steel did you use?
EN3A, didn't put much thought into it - just bought the cheapest chunk I could find!
@@PaulsGarageProjects Oh ok, thanks. I want to make something similar for my Boxford. I was considering EN1A since it machines so nicely but I am concerned it might be a bit too soft. That said it's probably harder than cast iron which the compound is made of.