Cutting steel

[tef9]

I am trying to cut steel on my sherline lathe . Having only used it for plastics and brass this is proving a challenge . I "Think" the steel I am using is stainless. However I have no experiance of cutting this sort of metal. I did watch the sherline video on different cuts. I switched for HSS to carbide after that (doh!) and although its less chattery it still puts up an amazing fight!

Any pointers, help or suggestions would be appriciated. My lathe is a cnc version (4400 I think) however I am trying to do this manually as the computer is ill also the diameter of the steel is 12.3mm. I will also add that I am using my fixed steady as the bar is about 300mm long! Though that seems not to be a problem.

A

[txcncman]

These hobby lathes generally are not rigid enough to do this kind of cutting well.

What RPM are you attempting to use?

Make sure your tool tip is right on center line. Try using the lower RPM you have available and small DOC (0.005 to 0.010).