Money to spend on inserts and holder for lathe

[wazrus]

The toolholders/posts in my pikkies usually run on a 24"x12" lathe and the central bolts- the ones with the handles- terminate in a fitting which will allow tightening to the compound-slide T-slot. My weeny little chinese 14"x7" doesn't have a compound slide slot, and the toolpost bolts, more-or-less directly, to the top of the compound slide. As such it's nowhere near as convenient a proposition to change toolposts and I can appreciate that with this small machine, the QR toolpost would be most useful. In fact, i might even invest in one or maybe I'll just alter the compound slide....hmmmm.....

 

[awake]

But I also saw a home version that looks really nice that someone did. I thimpfks there are efen plans for them. Would like to do that too just for the giggles.

I've made Aloris-piston-type QCTP for each of my lathes - a nice little project, and they have worked well for me through many years. I can dig up the plans if there is interest ...

 

[SmithDoor]

I purchased my first quick change back 1972.
I still keep old type for odd work when the Aloris is to big. That may happen ever 5 years.

Dave

That is a QC tool post, which probably a high percentage of us are using. me included. I know what a QC toolpost is. My question was to WAZRUS, as he posted
"I have about four complete toolposts, most of which wear HSS tooling, so the QC toolposts really aren't relevant. Toolposts are relatively easy to machine, so why bother with the QC type? Much quicker to change the whole post. "
That still does not make sense to me, if he changes the readily machined toolosts, rather than use a QC toolpost, what is he talking about? I change toolholders on my Aloris type QC toolpost in seconds.

 

[Richard Hed]

I've made Aloris-piston-type QCTP for each of my lathes - a nice little project, and they have worked well for me through many years. I can dig up the plans if there is interest ...

Thank you. I am interested in the plans.

 

[Jasonb]

Quick change also allows a tool to go back in the same place which is useful if you are making more than one part that needs several tools, can't do that with a lot of 4-way posts as they don't all have indexing plates and peg.

 

[SpringHollow]

The multifix tool posts are extremely nice.

Ken

 

[Richard Hed]

The multifix tool posts are extremely nice.

Ken

Ah, this "multifix" is what I called the British TP. I din't know the name. I'm wondering how it works. Can you move it around to various positions? What can hyou tell about it?

 

[animal12]

These folks are making their version of the Multifix tool post . If I hadn't of bought my QCTP I would have bought one of these . Their a real nice setup . I've been in full blown real machine shops where all their tool post's are the Multifix , or the KDK brand . That tells you something about the useful ness of these type tool holder . When I bought my QCTP I made a trip to my fastener store & bought a bag maybe 100 set screws to replace the soft dog points that come with the import QCTP & tool holders . These import Multifix aren't that much more than a quality import QCTP's .
http://www.createtool.com/list.asp?cid=33

 

[David Shealey]

It seems there is a terminology 'issue'. i have attached some pix of several of my toolposts and I feel sure no explanation of them all is needed. Their application, etc is obvious. One worthy of note, though is the decidedly 'old school' single toolpost, with the central setscrew. this is usually used with a forged steel toolholder. the toolholder itself is often 'bedded' on a spherically-faced 'washer', with what used to be known as a 'boat' underneath. The boat allowed the tool and its holder to be orientated 'on centre'. The packing to centre is not much of an issue for me, as there are about twenty tool holding grooves available. I don't think many lathes these days come with one of the single-post holders. Tool holders themselves are still available and do allow very ready adjustment of tools to desired heights. Toolholders are a good item to have if you're using a shaper, but the shaper holders are often specialised for that machine. Some carbide insert tooling is also visible and as I've said, carbides, both inserted and cemented, have their place, at least in my shop. There was a third photo, but the system seems to be having a hernia.View attachment 134230

Now that you posted a picture I know what you are talking about. My lathe (Jet GHB1340) came with one of those 4 way tool posts. After a month of fiddling with shimming tool heights I got an Aloris style QCTP and several tool holders, put the 4 way in a drawer, never to be used again. I have never seen a reason to pull it out of the drawer.
About 40 years ago I worked in a large shop that had 4 way and lantern/rocker style tool posts, bought Aloris quick change for all the lathes, the 4 ways and lantern tool posts soon found their way to the scrap bin, everyone was glad to see them go, none ever missed!

 

[SpringHollow]

The Multifix (and clones) have 40 repeatable rotations and I routinely make use of that capability. I have not looked at this link but Abom has one of the larger ones:

 

[wazrus]

I found the indexing peg on my 7"x14" to be a nuisance, especially with the 4-way toolpost, so I removed it! It wasn't just a matter of the correct centre height, it was more for tool clearance near the chuck and also to alter the tool approach, if 'things' weren't cutting as expected. The 'free' toolpost allowed re-orientation, often when using form tools. The 7"x14"'s 4-way post is too small to use tool holders, although I do have a few very small ones, so I usually just pack HSS to centre and leave 'em. Maybe, too, I might make a couple more 4-way posts for the little one: in fact I'll probably make 'em a bit bigger and also alter the central bolt/peg arrangement.

 

[wazrus]

Similarly, in reply to David Shealey, I've never found a need for a QC toolpost and I simply grab one of the 4-position posts. A further thought, though, is that with a QC post, it seems as though a user might be 'locking into' one or another makers' QC toolpost and if that maker goes belly up or decides not to manufacture any more - and that's happened plenty of times - then one is faced with buying a whole new suite. I certainly have a few 'proprietary gadgets' whose time has come, due in no way to my use of the thing. Just can't get 'em anymore, or parts for 'em.

 

[animal12]

even though you have a QCTP there sre times where you can't get the tool in as close as you can with a Aloris enough

 

[animal12]

I would also be interested in looking at plans for a tool post .
thanks
animal

 

[ShopShoe]

If your QCTP toolpost is OK and you need holders, they are not too hard to make. You can also design variations to fit your occasional oddball needs.

Before QCTP, one of the things I learned about the 4-way toolposts that come with the MiniLathe and other lathes is that you can improve rigidity if you put another toolbit opposite the one you are cutting with even if you don't plan on using it.

Also before QCTP, I made special variations of tool holders that fit the stud on the compound: IMHO also worth it.......

Regarding the little spring-loaded peg that comes installed under the 4-way block, I took that off and never looked back very soon after I got the lathe.

--ShopShoe

 

[ajoeiam]

Before QCTP, one of the things I learned about the 4-way toolposts that come with the MiniLathe and other lathes is that you can improve rigidity if you put another toolbit opposite the one you are cutting with even if you don't plan on using it.

snip

Hmm- - - - please explicate - - - how does having a tool opposite the one in use on a 4-way toolpost improve rigidity?

 

[mikelkie]

The multifix tool posts are extremely nice.

Ken

But extremely pricey too

 

[SmithDoor]

They good I look at that type back 1970's. But like the Aloris tool holder for repeat to 0.0001"

Dave

But extremely pricey too

 

[roncohudd]

Similarly, in reply to David Shealey, I've never found a need for a QC toolpost and I simply grab one of the 4-position posts. A further thought, though, is that with a QC post, it seems as though a user might be 'locking into' one or another makers' QC toolpost and if that maker goes belly up or decides not to manufacture any more - and that's happened plenty of times - then one is faced with buying a whole new suite. I certainly have a few 'proprietary gadgets' whose time has come, due in no way to my use of the thing. Just can't get 'em anymore, or parts for 'em.

The Quick Change posts wi all interchange with each other as far as I've found. I have tool holders from 4 different makers and all enterchanable.

 

[SpringHollow]

The Chinese versions of the Multifix are not extremely expensive and worth the price if you use your lathe much.