Ball turning tool

[Herbiev]

On several occasions I have needed a radius turning tool and just wondering which tool is the best buy both in cost and ease of operation

 

[10K Pete]

For me the important things with a ball cutter are:

1) Ridgidity in the cut. A good long handle is important also.
2) Smoothness of the swing bearings/bushings.
3) Ease of making small adjustments of the tool bit. Some sort of
fine pitch thread is a requirement, with, of course, a positive lock.

 

[deverett]

Steve Bedair's design has been widely copied, some with mods to the basic design. With the numbers made it probably does the job well enough.
http://bedair.org/Ball/ball.html

Don't know what size lathe you want it for, but the design has been miniaturised to fit on a Taig.

If you've got deep pockets then have a look at
http://www.chronos.ltd.uk/acatalog/Lathe_Ball_Turning_Attachment.html

Dave
The Emerald Isle

 

[rodw]

Herbie, a few people have copied my boring head ball turner design.
http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/showthread.php?t=23019

Just grab a straight shanked boring bar arbour. And fit your boring head as required. I got mine from CTC with my boring head but his prices are getting a bit out of hand IMHO.

 

[Herbiev]

Thanks for the response. I really like the simplicity of the boring head idea. Off to get a block of aluminium and give it a try.

 

[rodw]

Thanks for the response. I really like the simplicity of the boring head idea. Off to get a block of aluminium and give it a try.

Herbie, good luck with it. As others have found, make sure you give some thought to the position of the boring head in relation to the lathe centre so you can maximise the work envelope (eg. don't let the cutter go too far past the centre line). I put a fair bit of thought into this.