"The road to Hell is paved with good intentions"....(Finally upgrading my tool post)

[Runs With Scissors]

Ok...Well, the journey to add a "Top and Tilt" DPOCV is still under way, but a much needed "upgrade" to the Atlas needs to finally get done.

I have been putting this off for many, many years for "one of a thousand reasons".

Many, many moons ago, when I bought my Chi-Com lathe, it came with a sad little tool post.

So one of the "upgrades" I did was to make a "tool post holder modification" , to accept a Quick Change tool post.

It was one of my first projects and it is just flat out SAD.......It "works....kinda OK'ish" but if I was in machine shop class, I would be sitting in the corner wearing a "Dunce" hat......LOL

I'll edit this post when I take pics of my "sad little tool post holder"



However the actual QC tool post set up would be a nice upgrade to the Atlas.

The lathe is somewhat ancient.

Aside : (I believe it is from the early, early fifties because it has an "oil dauber" on the tailstock. According to Tublacain (aka mrpete222 on youtube) the "oil dauber" was quickly eliminated from the Atlas tailstock after a short period of time therefore indicating that it was part of the "first run" production.)

The original "lantern" style tool post works well, but switching between lathe bits would be a whole lot easier/faster with a QC model. Here's a pic of the original.

I apologize in advance for all the "over exposed" pics.

Here's the one I want to replace it with.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

So first off I notice that if it sits flat on the "cross compound" I will have to use the "upper limit" of the adjustment threads, because it sits a little low.

Therefore adding a "big a$$ shim" to the base would make it so that I could use more of the "middle adjustment" area.

I have found that most tools/things just seem to work better in the "middle" instead of at either extreme, so this is the "planned" addition.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Just by luck, I found the original base for the QC tool post, and of course its not even close to fitting into the cross compound.

Now if you think I don't know what I am doing on a lathe, well just pull up a chair Mr. and watch this sh!t, cause you ain't seen nothing yet!!!

I have had this Chi-Com mill the longest of all my "machines" and it is still the least understood to me.

I should have taken "a class" at the local community college, like I did with the TIG welder, but for whatever reason, I just continue to "grunt it out", and keep the "end mill" suppliers in business.

I am basically just making this rectangle into a T-nut, so I set up to take the first pass, but quickly learn that it is gonna hit the vice.

Next so I grab a "parallel" to rest it on, and then clamp it with the vice.

Now I am ready for the "big cut".

 

[Yooper]

I have the same lathe and I will keep it until the day I expire. Just too handy! Good luck with the QC tool post. Got them on all my lathes and once you get used to them there is no looking back

 

[TheOldHokie]

Just by luck, I found the original base for the QC tool post, and of course its not even close to fitting into the cross compound.

View attachment 111890

Now if you think I don't know what I am doing on a lathe, well just pull up a chair Mr. and watch this sh!t, cause you ain't seen nothing yet!!!

I have had this Chi-Com mill the longest of all my "machines" and it is still the least understood to me.

I should have taken "a class" at the local community college, like I did with the TIG welder, but for whatever reason, I just continue to "grunt it out", and keep the "end mill" suppliers in business.

I am basically just making this rectangle into a T-nut, so I set up to take the first pass, but quickly learn that it is gonna hit the vice.

View attachment 111891

Next so I grab a "parallel" to rest it on, and then clamp it with the vice.

View attachment 111892

Now I am ready for the "big cut".

View attachment 111893

Those little round column mills are pretty easy to use and can be handy as hell but they have some bad habits.

1. Make sure the column clamps are GutenTight or the cutting tool will pull the head around and quietly ruin your setup. They have even been known to pivot violently under cutting forces and that is really exciting.
2. The table lead screws do not have backlash eliminators and the tables are very light so climb milling like you are setup for tends to create slack in the feed mechanism and then all of a sudden the work piece gets pulled violently into the cutter. You have to feed very carefully or bad things can happen.

Dan

 

[Runs With Scissors]

During a "momentary lapse of reason" I decide that it will be a good idea to use this big a$$ end mil cause its pretty new and sharp, OH AND I decide to crank up the speed to "Fu@@ing Full Stupid"

My excuse is that I had just watched an ad for a "Personnel CNC" machine that can cut 30 lbs. of metal per hour, and was feeling "Spunky" I guess......

Well....about .235 seconds into the the cut, I hear this odd noise as the coolant starts bellowing smoke, and a shower of sparks makes it look like the Goshdamn Macy's 4th of July fireworks.

No pics of that happening as I was ducking for cover.....

Here is the "proof"

After turning the machine down to a "reasonable speed" I find an endmill that should work, and take 3 passes instead of trying to "hog it out" in one pass. (BTW you can see the "blue chips" from the Macy's Day Event on the vice.)

I did it kind of ass-backwards, because I should have milled the "T" part of it, before taking it out of the vice and milling the other side , but oh well.

 

[TheOldHokie]

During a "momentary lapse of reason" I decide that it will be a good idea to use this big a$$ end mil cause its pretty new and sharp, OH AND I decide to crank up the speed to "Fu@@ing Full Stupid"

My excuse is that I had just watched an ad for a "Personnel CNC" machine that can cut 30 lbs. of metal per hour, and was feeling "Spunky" I guess......

Well....about .235 seconds into the the cut, I hear this odd noise as the coolant starts bellowing smoke, and a shower of sparks makes it look like the Goshdamn Macy's 4th of July fireworks.

No pics of that happening as I was ducking for cover.....

Here is the "proof"

View attachment 111894

After turning the machine down to a "reasonable speed" I find an endmill that should work, and take 3 passes instead of trying to "hog it out" in one pass. (BTW you can see the "blue chips" from the Macy's Day Event on the vice.)

I did it kind of ass-backwards, because I should have milled the "T" part of it, before taking it out of the vice and milling the other side , but oh well.

View attachment 111896

View attachment 111896

Those little round column mills are handy as hell but they have some limitations. One is the feed screws do not have backlash eliminators so climb milling is a dicey operation. As you just discovered as you advance the table you develop slack in the feed mechanism and then suddenly the cutting forces jerk the table violently into the cutter and very bad things happen. It s not so much your choice of cutter or feed speed - its your choice of setup that got you in trouble.

Dan

 

[Runs With Scissors]

In the end it worked out.

It's not "zero tolerance" good, but I think it will work.

The post fits nice and flush with the bottom so I'm happy.

This took a little longer than anticipated, so I made the "Command Decision" to just us it as is, instead of making the "big a$$ shim". If I need the shim, I will do it, but lets see how this works for now.


The end.

 

[TheOldHokie]

In the end it worked out.

It's not "zero tolerance" good, but I think it will work.

View attachment 111897

View attachment 111898

The post fits nice and flush with the bottom so I'm happy.



View attachment 111899

View attachment 111900


This took a little longer than anticipated, so I made the "Command Decision" to just us it as is, instead of making the "big a$$ shim". If I need the shim, I will do it, but lets see how this works for now.


The end.

You don't need any great precision on something like that and as long as you can get the cutting tool height set right you don't need a shim.

Dan

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I have the same lathe and I will keep it until the day I expire. Just too handy! Good luck with the QC tool post. Got them on all my lathes and once you get used to them there is no looking back

I agree.

If I were to get a another lathe, I doubt I would get rid of this one.

I am loving the QC post so far.

But damn it.......Now I gotta buy more QC holders....It's a vicious cycle....

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Those little round column mills are pretty easy to use and can be handy as hell but they have some bad habits.

1. Make sure the column clamps are GutenTight or the cutting tool will pull the head around and quietly ruin your setup. They have even been known to pivot violently under cutting forces and that is really exciting.
2. The table lead screws do not have backlash eliminators and the tables are very light so climb milling like you are setup for tends to create slack in the feed mechanism and then all of a sudden the work piece gets pulled violently into the cutter. You have to feed very carefully or bad things can happen.

Dan

Dan, you should change your screen name to "Nostradamus" LOL

All of that has happened to me.

"Climb milling" is somewhat of an enigma to me.....

I kind of understand the the "climbing part" when the bit is smaller than the work.

But if the cutter is bigger than the work, what are you climbing?

Paul

 

[Runs With Scissors]

You don't need any great precision on something like that and as long as you can get the cutting tool height set right you don't need a shim.

Dan

Good know.

Thanks

 

[TheOldHokie]

Dan, you should change your screen name to "Nostradamus" LOL

All of that has happened to me.

"Climb milling" is some what of an enigma to me.....

I kind of understand the the "climbing part" when the bit is smaller than the work.

But if the cutter is bigger than the work, what are you climbing?

Paul

Climb milling is not about tool size. Climb milling is when you are feeding work in the same direction as cutter rotation. Conventional lead screws and nuts have significant backlash and as that gap opens it allows the cutter to abruptly pull the work piece into the cutter = super fast feed rate and broken cutter.

Dan

 

[Lil Foot]

QC toolpost is one of the best mods you can put on a lathe.
Increases efficiency & speed tremendously.
Now you will have to start collecting toolholders.

 

[TheOldHokie]

QC toolpost is one of the best mods you can put on a lathe.
Increases efficiency & speed tremendously.
Now you will have to start collecting toolholders.
View attachment 111948

Boys and their toys - I have been derelict in the cleanup - don't tell mama
The quick change spindle tooling can really break the bank....

Dan

 

[BXHoosier]

QC tool post is the only way to go. I despise the old lantern/ rocker tool posts. It’s been probably 25 yrs since I’ve used one.

 

[Lil Foot]

Boys and their toys - I have been derelict in the cleanup - don't tell mama
The quick change spindle tooling can really break the bank....

Dan

View attachment 111986

View attachment 111988

I thought I had a lot of QC lathe tool holders!

 

[TheOldHokie]

I thought I had a lot of QC lathe tool holders!

Actually those are BXA holders for my 14" lathe. Another collection of AXA holders for the 11" lathe. All cheap Taiwanese - I don't do anything that requires Aloris accuracy. Lathe has more slop in it than that anyway.. Here is the best thing I ever did for the lathe

 

[Lil Foot]

My 12x36 uses BXA also.
I had a single scale & readout on the Z axis of the 9x20 Enco that I sold to NIW.
Been kicking myself ever since. Should have kept it for the X axis of the 12x36 Birmingham.
DOH!

 

[torch]

But damn it.......Now I gotta buy more QC holders....It's a vicious cycle....

OR buy a dovetail cutter and make your own. That's what I did when I converted my lathe to QCTP.