Martin Models

[kd0afk]

I am looking at the Quorn MK2 tool grinder and I had an idea. Could the motor mount be made so that it could be used as a tool post grinder?

http://www.martinmodel.com/MMPtools-subfiles/Quorn/tools-quorn.html

 

[Dave Sohlstrom]

Yes In the QUORN Universal tool and cutter grinder book by Professor D H Chaddock the designer of the Quorn on the last 2 pages of the book he shows the head on a lathe tool post and on a vert mill being used as a surface grinder.

I have taken pattern making classes from Gary and his castings are first rate. I have a set waiting for time to build one.

Dave

 

[kd0afk]

Yes In the QUORN Universal tool and cutter grinder book by Professor D H Chaddock the designer of the Quorn on the last 2 pages of the book he shows the head on a lathe tool post and on a vert mill being used as a surface grinder.

I have taken pattern making classes from Gary and his castings are first rate. I have a set waiting for time to build one.

Dave

So how cool is that? Buy the kit and book for around $400 spend a weekend machining it and you have a $400 tool post grinder and a tool grinder. I would call that a deal. That's just a bit more than a good bench grinder costs.
Is the spiral attachment for sharpening spiral flutes?

 

[Dave Sohlstrom]

When you do a part count and all the machining and fitting that has to happen I think you would have to work 24 hours a day and then I don't think you'll get it done in a week end.

Dave

 

[goldstar31]

Starting and completing a Quorn in a weekend is- to say the least, a moonbeam.
If you get the spindle done- you'll be really lucky.

The crafty thing is NOT to use a Quorn as a tool post grinder but buy a wood router which will have either or all of the following collets- 6mm, 1/4" or 1/2".

I bought a Bosch POF 45( or 50) with a 1/4" collet as a router. Read the blurb and found that it had started its life as as 'tool and cutter grinder'. Consequently, it got a 43mm collar and went on the lathe.

Returning to the quorn, I question wether the Mk2 will act as a sort of surface grinder and whatever because of the guard etc. However, the Mk1 is far more versatile- and will.

 

[pherdie]

I offer that the motor used with most Quorn units is a smaller fractional HP type and therefore quite limited in what it could do as a tool post grinder. If the motor wasn't the limiting factor, the spindle would be.

The Quorn was designed with small tooling and model pieces in mind. It's my opinion it would be essentially useless for something like grinding a MT3 taper. It is a remarkably versatile device for what it was engineered for. I made one (a Bonelle version), but use it far less than I anticipated.

 

[goldstar31]

I have to agree with pherdie about the power/hp issue. My first incursion into Quorns and the like utilised a scrap 1/4 HP 1440rpm motor from a home washing machine. It was powerful enough but created an unstable configuration. When finances 'improved', I fitted a 1/6th 2880rpm which came from fractional geared motor.
It is still there- but as pherdie rightly mentions, my machine hasn't been used for some years either.
I tend to use the MK1 Clarkson having disposed of my Surface grinder for jobs other than lathe tools. Those tasks are adequately covered by the homemade Kennet- which also has a more easily constructed spindle but a 1/6th hp 2880 motor.

Adding a Stent to the workshop is a bit of overkill but I have retained the old Bosch router/ex tool post grinder- just in case!

As for more powerful motors ie wood routers, these are available at under £30 which frankly is neither here nor there in terms of model making machinery.