What lathe?

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sun64

sun64

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Heres my 2 cents worth Brad.
Like I have said before I am not a machinist but over the years I have machined wheel hubs, pulleys ,pins , shafts ete etc for myself. I have worked in mining and now for the last 18 years on oil rigs. I am a metal fabricator / welder by trade and have dial clocked in tail shafts and gear etc etc for work as I am in the maintenance department. I am no expert though.
Personall for what you will be doing with that small lathe, your tool post will accomodate 4 turning bits. It will be fine without spending the extra money at this time.
I have used the quick changes before but the old lathe on this rig is exactly like yours, but a lot larger.
You are not going into producing multiple parts and with most of your saws, each one will be a different saw and probably a different set up from the previous saw.

Getting the tip close to centre if fine for most of what you will do.
Machining jugs , squish band pistons etc, it could be 20, 30 thou out off centre and it wont make any difference.
Even with the piston, the little bit left in the centre can be filed / ground off when machining a pop top as the piston is not a rolling / rotating part, just up and down movement and I can hardly see that ammount making it vibrate.
You are not making gearbox parts etc.
Like I said in my earlier post , dial indicators are a must. I would spend your money on decent indicators before quick change posts in my opinion.
Brad, I could tell you to buy the best pulse mig, press, mag base rotor broach drill etc but most people can get away with a lot less.
If you had a decent lathe with a nice throw, then yeah, spend some more coin.
At home I have a chinese lathe , 3 ft between centres and my 3 phase drill press I have adapted for milling with a milling carridge , milling vice etc, which is fine for home use.
Just get what you basically need at this stage and then evaluate later.
All the best with it
Wayne
 
splitpost

splitpost

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shim steel

Getting the tip close to centre if fine for most of what you will do.
Machining jugs , squish band pistons etc, it could be 20, 30 thou out off centre and it wont make any difference.
Even with the piston, the little bit left in the centre can be filed / ground off when machining a pop top as the piston is not a rolling / rotating part, just up and down movement and I can hardly see that ammount making it vibrate.

hey wayne, just shim the tool holder in the tool post ,problem fixed
 
sun64

sun64

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hey wayne, just shim the tool holder in the tool post ,problem fixed

Yes, I do that. But what I was getting at , is for machining the base on a jug etc, the tool piece it does'nt have to be EXACTLY spot on centre.
Of course get them centred but it is not so critical on a jugs base etc , that was what I was trying to convey.
There was posts about a quick change post that would be within 1 thou when re installing them back on to the tool post.
Regards Wayne
 
splitpost

splitpost

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Yes, I do that. But what I was getting at , is for machining the base on a jug etc, the tool piece it does'nt have to be EXACTLY spot on centre.
Of course get them centred but it is not so critical on a jugs base etc , that was what I was trying to convey.
There was posts about a quick change post that would be within 1 thou when re installing them back on to the tool post.
Regards Wayne

gottya mate,no worries
 
sun64

sun64

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gottya mate,no worries

Cheers mate. I probably waffle on too much LOL People probably get confused with my posts.
It just seamed to me everyone wanted Brad to buy the latest and greatest for a small, cheap lathe.
To me , some of it was really not warranted spending the coin on at this stage except for a good dial indicator and turning bars etc
My lathe came with face plates , 3 , 4 jaw chucks, live centres fixed and travelling steadys etc which are all important.
Also depends on what you are going to use the lathe for mostly as to what you will need.
Mine has the same type tool post as Brads which will be fine for what I need at home.
Stay safe
Wayne :msp_thumbup:
 
Tzed250

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I totally agree about the QCTP. I went all the way through tech school turning parts inside of .001" with a 4-way turret. RH-LH OD tools, parting tool, chamfer/threading tool. Even the tool room lathe we have at work has a 4-way and it is a $20K machine. QC is for production work.
 
srcarr52

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Yes, I do that. But what I was getting at , is for machining the base on a jug etc, the tool piece it does'nt have to be EXACTLY spot on centre.
Of course get them centred but it is not so critical on a jugs base etc , that was what I was trying to convey.
There was posts about a quick change post that would be within 1 thou when re installing them back on to the tool post.
Regards Wayne

The wedge style is designed to drop the tool back in within a few thou in the x and y directions, the height is not as critical and will probably be within 10 thou. That accuracy is only needed for production work, but the convenience of a QCTP provides maximum flexibility with minimum tool change time. So if you are not doing production work a piston style is fine and you'll be glad you bought it over a turn table.
 
Bob Wright

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you can also just leave your live center in the tail stock and use that point as a height gauge.

Once you get the bit on center poke your quill out of the tailstock and scribe a line with the now centered tool bit then you will always have a mark to judge the center by.


And buy this book. 2nd pic. I had 2 of them and loaned both out now i have none...Bob
 
sun64

sun64

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The wedge style is designed to drop the tool back in within a few thou in the x and y directions, the height is not as critical and will probably be within 10 thou. That accuracy is only needed for production work, but the convenience of a QCTP provides maximum flexibility with minimum tool change time. So if you are not doing production work a piston style is fine and you'll be glad you bought it over a turn table.

I do agree with you completely ,and that they are nice to have but whether Brad will get the true benifit from them compared to what he will be doing with his lathe, and how how much he is willing to spend. If I recall correctly he wanted a low budget machine
Great posts though
Cheers Wayne
 
sun64

sun64

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Once you get the bit on center poke your quill out of the tailstock and scribe a line with the now centered tool bit then you will always have a mark to judge the center by.


And buy this book. 2nd pic. I had 2 of them and loaned both out now i have none...Bob

Thanks for the tip Bob, never really thought of that ( permantly marking the centre height )
And aint that a fact Bob , lending out gear never to be seen again !!!
I have had mates swear black and blue they have returned it and then you see it at their place years later after you have gone and replaced it.
Cheers Wayne
 
dozerdan

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Shopping list.

  1. Quick Change Tool Post
  2. Live Center
  3. Keyless Chuck
  4. Magnetic Base Dial Indicator
  5. Misc Cutting Tools

What else well I need?


Brad
I will send you a few cutting tools, I have extra brazed carbide if left, right hand, threading. I will send a few HSS blanks in 3/8 and a few in 1/2. I will grind a new 3/8 blank for you to cut the base of the cylinders with and another one to cut the pistons with. I also have a new AXA tool holder that came in a lot of BXA holder that I bought.
I will have to look around and see what else that I can find for you.
You will need to add few center drills to your list but I don't have any extra right now.
PM me an address

Later
Dan
 
Nitroman

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Okay, in the spirit of all things AS, I have decided to give up my connect for everything machinery related. They have everything, and yes, they'll ship anywhere too.

PLAZA MACHINERY,USED MACHINERY, METALWORKING MACHINERY, WOODWORKING MACHINERY

Click on the word doc for "metalworking", and you'll see what they have in stock. But it will be everything. Oh, Brad, several small mills for sale on eBay. The Burke mills are well priced. :)
 
blsnelling
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Brad

What happened with the holding out for the Hardinge ?

Later
Dan
I was fearful of buying a machine with hidden issues that I don't yet know enough about to notice or fix. If the opportunity arises, I can always upgrade. This just seemed like the wisest and most simple solution right now.

Brad
I will send you a few cutting tools, I have extra brazed carbide if left, right hand, threading. I will send a few HSS blanks in 3/8 and a few in 1/2. I will grind a new 3/8 blank for you to cut the base of the cylinders with and another one to cut the pistons with. I also have a new AXA tool holder that came in a lot of BXA holder that I bought.
I will have to look around and see what else that I can find for you.
You will need to add few center drills to your list but I don't have any extra right now.
PM me an address

Later
Dan
That's mighty generous of you and will be very helpful since you know exactly how I'll be using it. PM coming. Thanks again!
 
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