Mini Lathe Tooling plate

[JFettig]

Basicly how I measure my tools is I eyeball them at first, Im getting pretty good then I take a test cut off the end and see if it leaves a tit, if it does then you can see which way to move it. They have a locking nut ontop of the thumbnut that I often set.

I also just have the stock tool holders, and I broke off a cheap ball hex wrench in one so I am kinda stuck with that tool in there, really sucks because its a 45 degree champfer type tool(thats all I have been using it for), so I gotta somehow get that out, I also would like to find more holders.

Jon

[RotarySMP]

How are the tools set of commercial CNC Lathes for height? Cutting until the tits gone is what I've been doing also, but there must be a better way.

[JFettig]

Actually a lot of times we just eyeball them and fix them if they are off when we use regular quick change tool posts. We also have 8 position tool posts that you unscrew the handle and turn it and tighten again, that one has a precision plate so its always on center. With the big machining centers, most of the time the tools are upside down and thats acurately, the screws push down on what you would call the bottom of the tool onto a precision top, so no matter what size tool you put in there it will be centered. this is how my back tool post is, although I need to take off another thousandth for it to be dead on, just afraid Ill go over.

Jon

[Trapper14]

In industry most of the machinists I know already have it close, and just fine tune it in the control, until the tit on the part is gone. I am sure there is some special technical way out there, but for us guys, that might be the best bet. Maybe u could try milling a piece of steel like this




and set the tool height where the six is, just a though, not sure if it will work or not ( you would push tools against that flat which is dead even with the spindle)

[RotarySMP]

The only use of this idea I have seen is from John Moran's site:

http://www.gadgetbuilder.com/DieHolder.html.

[Halfnutz]

I just got the Phase II from Enco on sale w/ holders for 89.00 I bored out the stud for my 10mm stud on my 9X20 and it fits really nice. At first it looked large, even on the 9X20, but once mounted its perfect. A really nice change for the better. Running the tap down the center of that bolt was a trip, I was sure it was going to snap, but it didn't and the sleeve set up worked out perfectly.

[brihoo2k]

Wow JFETTIG you made my day to see the same lathe that I bought made into cnc could you tell me what you used stepper or servo motors and what size

[JFettig]

Hey Brihoo2k, Glad I could make make your day

I am using 272oz-in motors from automationdirect.com

I sell cnc kits for the mini lathe off of my website jfettigmachines.com

I have been running this cnc for some time now, I am quite happy with it.

Jon

[miljnor]

I have his lathe kit for steppers and it works quite well. I have the Hobbycnc kit with the 200oz-in motors and it works well although I haven't had enough time to do a thourogh shake down everythings seems to be up to snuff!