Can you identify this lathe?

[scott0031]

Hi C/M,
I had considered looking into making some tools for it, ill need to take a picture but my tool post is missing a T nut or something as the carriage with T nut slots is on the lathe but there isnt anything to locate the toolpost onto the carriage (probably not the right word).

Ill take some pics but any initial clues anyone?

Joe

Yes lots of clues! Many ancient type machines didn’t run a tool post as such, not in the sense as we know a tool post in the modern day. Often they would be a something like a riser block coming within x dimension of the centre height of the machine, then the tool was clamped to that’ tool post’. They used a swan neck type cutting tool to help eliminate chatter on the machine (as those bush type heads were notorious for creating chatter and are very weak machine tool design.

The above isn’t true of all machines of that type of age some varied a lot and did have a compound slide (see below)

The part you’re talking about where a tool post should be is the cross slide. (Where the T slots are.) The normal configuration as most will know it is:

Cross slide with a compound slide mounted on top.

Tool post mounted on top of the compound slide.


This in turn brings you up to a sensible centre height for the turning tools.

Its hard to say if that machine had a compound slide as original (not all did back then), unless you can identify the make and find some pics of it. The best bet is to take a close look at the cross slide face and see if there is any whiteness marks on it that resemble a shape of some form. If you can identify any it will give a clue to the machines original configuration.

You could attempt to purchase a compound slide off a broken machine and adapt it to fit the cross slide of your machine. You will have to keep a close eye on the height available to ensure you can get the centre height you need if you go down this route.


Kind regards,


Scott (ward eng)

 

[graffian]

I would just make a solid toolpost and see how you get on with it. shouldn't take you long to make a nice simple toolpost.

 

[Bigjoe]

Thanks chaps, all good food for thought,ill certainly get some close up shots posted on here for some opinions when i get 5 mins to do it.

Joe

 

[Bigjoe]

Scott,
On closer inspection of a few of the bits and pieces i have with the lathe,the 'toolpost' has a modified bolt running through it with a ground head that slides into the t slots and it also has a swan neck shape tool in it (alas i only got 1 with it) But i might have a try at making a few different tools for it, do i have to use Hss stock or would something else be more suitable?

Pics coming i promise,but its sat at the back of the house covered up against the weather at the mo,if we have a good day this week ill give it a good clean and take some pics of it.

Joe

 

[shenion]

HSS is most common and easy to grind to shape.

Stay away from cheap carbide tooling. Most is crap with improper relief and rake angles for small lathes. You see big sets of them on fleabay. I wasted money on some only to find they chatter and dull quickly.

I use indexed carbide tooling with inserts. Easier to use, cuts faster and lasts longer but a bit brittle.

Would be interested in the toolpost. Sounds like you have a tool holder, they make it easier to grind bits as it puts them at an angle.

You can spend a fortune on tool bits, holders and specialty tools. Boring and parting tools are one. But you can get these that will fit a standard tool holder.

Would like to see picts. No picts of the front in the thread, really no name on it? Probably ike mine, has a brass plate with model # that is long gone But it came with full set of original manuals, even better.

 

[graffian]

If you can braze or silver solder a handy way to to make tools is scrounge old carbide inserts and glue them to mild steel stock. You do want to get some HSS though.

 

[chap]

You can get some gauge plate (annealed tool steel) if you fancy making up form tools (probably not that usefull if yuo don't have a mill or other tools to cut it though). Then you can make radius cutters, and alsorts.. heat treat to make hard.
Won't stay as sharp as ground up HSS though.
I love making special purpose tooling.. it's something about making things that make other things!

You can make a holder, drilled to take broken (HSS) taps, secured with a set screw. Grind cutting faces.

Probably not worth you buying indexing toolholders, as the inserts are quite dear and are easy to break if you don't yet have a good handle on speeds and feeds.

I'd start with what you've got before you start buying more gear. Get the lathe cutting some metal; see if it cuts relatively parallel; if there's much run-out in the chuck; if it chatters like a c*nt. Some nice thick grease in the plain bearings may help take up some slack and reduce chatter.