Lathe tool questions

[Chris152]

Two bits that came with our old Colchester lathe that I'm not clear about.
1. What type of face mill is this? It seems to have mini toolholders to hold the cutters - is it just an old-fashioned version?
2. What are the holes on the side of the boring head for? One goes right through the head, one goes as far as the centre, and one has a screw in it, maybe for holding a tool in the first side hole that runs right through the head? None of the side holes are the same diameter as the one on the face, holding a boring tool in the pic.
I know the vernier dial moves the head sideways.

Thanks for any thoughts, Chris

 

[Kram]

Yeah the face mill looks designed for brazed tools so the tooth height needs to be adjustable to allow them to be ground.

Boring heads usually have a row of axial holes as your using in the pic, screw holes to clamp them and then a cross drill so you can put a bar radially for bigger bores.

 

[Chris152]

That's great - thank you Kram.
I guess to set all four cutters to the right height, we mount the face mill on the machine, let gravity drop them to the milling bed and then tighten them up?

 

[Kram]

The "proper" way probably involves a dial indicator and a feeler gauge to measure and adjust.

Insert facemills are not perfect and checked mine a while back, I think there was 0.1mm between some of the teeth! Adequate for my purposes tho.

 

[Agroshield]

You can also raise all but one of the tool bits and use it as a flycutter.

Have a look here, about halfway down the page, at the one captioned "UPA3 turning, boring and facing" to see how the hole in the side can be used: (http://www.lathes.co.uk/wohlhaupter-upa-boring-heads/)

 

[Chris152]

Here's a thought - if we replaced the welded-in inserts/ holders with indexible carbide holders and cutters, would that work? (We don't have anything to sharpen the existing carbide tips on.)

 

[iNf]

We don't have anything to sharpen the existing carbide tips on.)

Something like this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/10Pcs-Diam...06862659&sprefix=diamond+disk,aps,362&sr=8-26
Or diamond disk on angle grinder/ tile cutter will do it

 

[Chris152]

Something like this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/10Pcs-Diamond-Cutting-Rotary-Mandrel/dp/B01CZM1810/ref=mp_s_a_1_26?crid=U5IZ96QE6W2Q&keywords=diamond+disk&qid=1706862659&sprefix=diamond+disk,aps,362&sr=8-26
Or diamond disk on angle grinder/ tile cutter will do it

Ah, ok - thanks.

 

[Chippie]

The "proper" way probably involves a dial indicator and a feeler gauge to measure and adjust.

Insert facemills are not perfect and checked mine a while back, I think there was 0.1mm between some of the teeth! Adequate for my purposes tho.

If the tips were set up all the same it would show up any inaccuracies in the tram of the mill….however to get them all set the same absolutely spot on is nigh impossible?

 

[Chris152]

to get them all set the same absolutely spot on is nigh impossible?

Is that because each cutter has two points of adjustment - cutter to holder, and holder to the milling tool - so eight in all?

 

[Kram]

Nah fairly easy if time consuming, same as clocking in a 4 jaw.

 

[Chippie]

Is that because each cutter has two points of adjustment - cutter to holder, and holder to the milling tool - so eight in all?

Afaik, it’s just the height above the table/workpiece, so they all cut as the tool is advanced into the work piece….