Mounting Lathe Turning Tool

[ab56452001]

Yes , ive had a quick look around the local yard and thats how i got some of the metal to make my own clamps and blocks and a few Parallel Bars . Ally thin Plate and Rod 12mm and under is where i am having not much luck .

 

[gaz1]

then swap to steel theres plenty in scrap yards

steel rsj you will get 3 pieces out of that small piece of beam 10mm , 12mm, under that and you will hit 8mm,5mm you will find that in uchannel on wagons u channel beams

12" 10" 8" 5" 4" all in steel beams with a bit of milling a loverly flat plate for peanuts can be had

 

[addjunkie]

Im all for recycling metal from where ever when learning, but once you actually start making things that have a purpose it pays to know what grade you are using and why. The properties of similar looking metals, weld and machine very easily, other dont. Other snap very easily in use, due to vibration of shear loading.

I once visited in hospital the aftermath of a broken steering stem on a custom bike, as he though any old chunk of metal would do! 4 months in traction taught him otherwise.

 

[ab56452001]

Just a little update . Ive been around a few small manufacturing/engineering outfits looking for scraps , steel no probs most let you take it out the offcuts Bin gratis , Alu as most know has a price and was not so easy to find , Alu 1 Rod 1/4" and 1 Rod 1/2"both 3 foot long 1 Rod 1" 2 foot long and 1 piece of 1"square bar 3 foot long 30$ ! , cheers.

 

[ab56452001]

O'K' , So back to my original question of how best to mount the cutters , any ideas/experience ? , cheers.

 

[Hood]

Many people have used their CNC Milling machines as lathes for making small parts. Some of them just clamp the tool in a vice, get the Y Axis centred correctly so that the tip of the tool is on the workpiece centre and off they go.
Others get more fancy and have multiple tools set up in a similar manner to a gang tool lathe and they can then just move position on the Y axis to utilise the next tool etc.
Obviously on a manual mill that would not be so easy as you would have to note the relative positions for each tool.
A single tool however could be used easily and as long as you can fit the workpiece ina collet chuck in the spindle and have a nice controllable feed on the quill (z Axis) then you can make some nice parts.

As to whether a vice or a dedicated holder is the best way to go then I would say it depends how often you will be using the mill as a lathe. If just every now and then I would just use the vice. If you will be using it a lot then it may well be worth the time and effort setting up a dedicated holding block.

 

[Hood]

Here is one vid. Personally I would have had the tool in the opposite side of the vice and lying down like you would in a lathe as it would be more rigid.

 

[ab56452001]

Thanks heap's !