How to position cutter on a lathe and which cutter to use?

[alexccmeister]

Hi all,

I have been playing around with C3 lathe and it has been fun. But I am not cutting right as the stuff I turned aren't smooth and has lots of ridges. This is undoubtedly the result of using the tool wrongly.

Can someone direct me to an online tutorial on what tools to use for what turning operation? e.g. Which is for thread cutting? I have a set of cutter from SIEG but I have no idea which one is for which. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks.

Alex

[alexccmeister]

Hi all,

Anyone?

[Al_The_Man]

Get a copy of How to Run A Lathe by the SouthBend Lathe works, this was originally printed in 1914 and you can still get reprints on ebay etc 260125325664
It is a little dated of course, but alot of information is still relevent and shows how to shape your own turning tools, aligning and truing threading etc.
Al.

[alexccmeister]

Hi Al, thanks for the info.

[g-codeguy]

Originally Posted by alexccmeister Hi all, I have been playing around with C3 lathe and it has been fun. But I am not cutting right as the stuff I turned aren't smooth and has lots of ridges. This is undoubtedly the result of using the tool wrongly. Can someone direct me to an online tutorial on what tools to use for what turning operation? e.g. Which is for thread cutting? I have a set of cutter from SIEG but I have no idea which one is for which. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks. Alex

Do you know anyone working in a machine shop? Can you visit one? Finish can be rough even with the proper tool if you are feeding too fast. You have a lot to learn. Working on your own is not the best way to learn in my opinion. Read all the technical information in the catalogs for your tools. There should be a section that will offer help with figuring surface feet, depth of cuts, and feed rates. Yeah...I know. What is surface feet? Like I said, "You have a lot to learn." Good luck. Don't be afraid to ask for help on here.

[RonF]

http://www.americanmachinetools.com/...se_a_lathe.htm

Really good info from basics to more complex setups.

[alexccmeister]

Hi G-Codeguy,

Thanks for your comments. I do know of some machine shop locally but I doubt if they want to allow me to come in and mess around with their equipment since they are doing biz with it. But their is a place I think I may be able to go and learn from and its my local Institute of Technology faculty of mechanical engineering. they do have a machine shop. I had a look at it and they have some large lathe as well as mill and a very sophisticated CNC 5 axis milling machine which is not being used. What a waste. The reason, no one there knows how to use it.

Hi Ron,

Thanks for the link. lots of info. Thanks.

Alex

[g-codeguy]

Originally Posted by alexccmeister Hi G-Codeguy, Thanks for your comments. I do know of some machine shop locally but I doubt if they want to allow me to come in and mess around with their equipment since they are doing biz with it. But their is a place I think I may be able to go and learn from and its my local Institute of Technology faculty of mechanical engineering. they do have a machine shop. I had a look at it and they have some large lathe as well as mill and a very sophisticated CNC 5 axis milling machine which is not being used. What a waste. The reason, no one there knows how to use it. Alex

Sorry for being so vague. I didn't mean for you to go to a local machine shop and use their machines. More visit a time or two, and talk to the people running the machines. Ask some questions. Who knows, maybe one would be willing to spend a little time instructing you (at a later time). Obviously you couldn't hold up their work. Bosses get a little touchy that way!

The school is a much better place though, provided the instructor has practical experience. The 5-axis mill would be cool to program and run. However they aren't something I would suggest starting on. Learn to walk before trying to fly!

[alexccmeister]

Hi G-codeguy,

I got you. I wouldn't want to touch that beast even if they let me. I don't understand 5 axis milling well enough to want to fiddle with it. But I have been thinking of sort of like doing part time learning there and maybe being a part time instructor there once i have learned the trade. Only if I have time. At the moment I am up to my next in personal and work project.

Just to give you some idea of what they have.

They have an EDM machine that is just sitting there doing nothing. A few huge FADAL milling machine and lathe. Lots of table top lathes for student to partake in machining practice. A few bandsaw and some aluminium, steel stocks. Machinery heaven for me if I can get my hands on them.

I went there twice and I see only a handful of student working on the machines. Really a waste. I hope when I have some time, I would like to offer some help to them and see if I can use the machines at the same time.

[g-codeguy]

Well, alexccmeister, you have inspired me to look into finding a local technical school that teaches cnc mills. Not that I will ever get the chance to use it where I work now, but one never knows, hey? There is enough lathe work here to keep me plenty busy.

Good luck with the school.

[Al_The_Man]

Originally Posted by alexccmeister I went there twice and I see only a handful of student working on the machines. Really a waste. I hope when I have some time, I would like to offer some help to them and see if I can use the machines at the same time.

Stick around here long enough and you could pick up enough to show them how to use it

[alexccmeister]

Thanks guys.