Might be a daft question but is the tool set at centre height?
Also 1 thou is nowhere near enough. That's about 0.025 a time. A roughing cut can be up to 3mm or more on mild or ally. I always split my finishing cuts in 2 as it leaves a better finish. you need a bit of a rad on the end of the tool too...
It's a bit more complicated. The optimum cutting speed for mild steel is 30m a min surface speed passing the tool. You have to convert the meters to mm which is where the 30000 (as there is 30,000mm in 30m) comes in you then divide 30,000 by (pi X Dia). on a calculator. If it comes up as a fraction press the SD or ABC button.
been having go of my clarke lahe at last.
only got cutters that guy at machine mart threw in lathe.
cut is rough got it on slowest speed.
am taking as little as pos of and going in as slow as i can.
noticed looking at pics of other lathes they have removable tips.
is it me being heavy handed or do i need some better cutters?
if cutters what do i get?
cheers
no offence taken.
all i could afford at time to learn on hoping to get back on track next financially so might be able to get myford or something.
was looking at the warco ones at model engineering show they any good?
until i know more about them wouldnt by second hand as not sure what to check apart from obv signs of damage.
My first lathe was a bendy old Atlas. It was ok to learn on and I managed to make some nice little bits on it - including porting out a turbocharger but I'd treat your machine as I treated mine - a stepping-stone to something better that won't hurt too badly if you crash it.
I'm just taking my second upgrade-step now from the Denford I replaced the Atlas with to a wonderful Monarch.
no offence taken.
all i could afford at time to learn on hoping to get back on track next financially so might be able to get myford or something.
was looking at the warco ones at model engineering show they any good?
until i know more about them wouldnt by second hand as not sure what to check apart from obv signs of damage.
I wonder how many people actually used one of these lathes, rather than just read about them. A bit like the bandsaws slagging that goes on.
Setup correctly they are capable of tight tolerances and good finish: I should know I've owned a ML300* and a Warco. I've a mate (ex-Brough Aerospace) All he has is a ML300 and a tiny Sieg mill. And the work he puts out with both of these would put many people to shame.
Shox dr what is best way to set it up?
already admitted to being hamfisted.