Turning Brass


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Thread: Turning Brass

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    Default Turning Brass

    Hi,

    I am trying to turn a small brass shaft out of .5" stock brass bar.

    Every time I take a a few thou off, the surface left is like sand paper.

    I have tried an oil lube, and various speeds.

    What am I doing wrong? Also, I would appreciate a quick 5 min tutorial on how to turn brass.

    Thanks in advance
    Phil

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    positive insert, kick RPM all the way up..... leave more material.

    The best way to learn is trial error.


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    two words. zero rake.

    turn & drill brass dry with tools ground for zero rake. milling use sharp cutters. brass needs a sharp cutter, even a file, once used on steel, works poorly on brass. once you start with a zero rake tool it cuts like butter, a pleasure to machine with a smooth bright finish



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    Quote Originally Posted by Mcgyver View Post
    two words. zero rake.

    turn & drill brass dry with tools ground for zero rake. milling use sharp cutters. brass needs a sharp cutter, even a file, once used on steel, works poorly on brass. once you start with a zero rake tool it cuts like butter, a pleasure to machine with a smooth bright finish
    Just to add a slight comment...zero rake means that the top surface of the tool is flat and positioned so that it is on a radial line drawn from the center.

    I have drawn a couple of pictures.

    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Turning Brass-rake-jpg  
    An open mind is a virtue...so long as all the common sense has not leaked out.


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    Yeah what those guys said but with top speed



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    I turned brass for years. Solid as well as tubing for the Churches. They use a lot of brass because it looks like Gold when it's high polished. I have also found that if you Hollow grind the top of your tool the chips take an abrupt turn and snap off and won't get all stringy on ya. This works with forming tools also. I used an old SouthBend lathe at top rpm and fed the tool straight in to do the profile. But be carefull cause brass is soft and tries to climb up on top of your tool and it also pushes away. 1/2 in. dia. cannot be hung out too far. Book says no more than 2.5 X the dia. should be hanging out of the Chuck so you have to work as close to the Chuck as you can. Otherwise you may need support from the tailstock.



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    Thanks for the responses everybody.

    Last night I tried to make some more cuts and with great success...

    I dug out a 1/4" tool with a right hand indexable HSS insert. This tool had zero rake.

    Running the mini lathe at max speed, I was able to make some very nice clean cuts. Of course the point of the tool does leave a slight rib... I think I would need so sort of automated slow feed to remove this, or use a tool with a more rounded cutting edge???

    Thanks for all the suggestions.
    Phil



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    Quote Originally Posted by BeerFizz View Post
    .... Of course the point of the tool does leave a slight rib... I think I would need so sort of automated slow feed to remove this, or use a tool with a more rounded cutting edge???

    Thanks for all the suggestions.
    Phil
    You can control the finish a little with the tool position and your own operation of the saddle travel.

    If you rotate the tool in the holder slightly so the trailing edge forms a very small angle with the work it will provied a smoother finish; if you go too far the area of contact becomes too large and the work will chatter. You need to find a good midpoint.

    For travelling the saddle along for the feed use both hands for the smoothest operation. Don't try turning the handle on the wheel grip the rim and rotate it constantly by using your hands alternately.

    An open mind is a virtue...so long as all the common sense has not leaked out.


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    Quote Originally Posted by BeerFizz View Post
    I dug out a 1/4" tool with a right hand indexable HSS insert.
    now thats going full circle! get yourself some hss blanks, then you can grind what you need when you need it

    i don't 100% understand the 'full speed' recommendations, as always speed is surface speed and depends on dia. brass likes somewhere between steel and AL, maybe 200 sfm using hss

    stoning a slight radius on the tool and slow feed will help with finish.



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    Quote Originally Posted by Mcgyver View Post
    ...i don't 100% understand the 'full speed' recommendations, as always speed is surface speed and depends on dia. brass likes somewhere between steel and AL, maybe 200 sfm using hss

    stoning a slight radius on the tool and slow feed will help with finish.
    With a diameter of .5" even 200 sfm needs 1500rpm, carbide can be three times that so in this case 'full speed' is probably too slow.

    An open mind is a virtue...so long as all the common sense has not leaked out.


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    ahhhh you are right, missed the .500



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    Thanks for all the comments everyone.

    Just a quick follow up question:

    Where should the tip of the tool be positioned with respect to the center line of the work. Dead on center, a little below or a little above.

    thanks again
    Phil



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    Quote Originally Posted by BeerFizz View Post
    Thanks for all the comments everyone.

    Just a quick follow up question:

    Where should the tip of the tool be positioned with respect to the center line of the work. Dead on center, a little below or a little above.

    thanks again
    Phil
    All three

    Nominally dead on center when your tool is ground correctly in all aspects, zero top and side rake a a few degrees front and side clearance.

    Sometimes, however, especially with thin stock, you matter get chatter and this may be prevented by placing the cutting edge above center which reduces the front clearance so the tip tends to rub a little bit. Alternatively sometimes placing it below center will work but then really thin stock may try to climb onto the tool.

    This is the sort of thing you need to experiment with so you learn what options are open to you.

    An open mind is a virtue...so long as all the common sense has not leaked out.


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    Start on center. Brass has a tendency to Climb up on top of the Tool. So lite feed and or light cut does best unless you are parting it off.



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