Yes, it does make sense, because the typical rocker tool post was used in conjunction with tool holders, which provided a given rake angle. As you move the rocker to achieve tool height, the back rake angle will change, as will relief angles of the tool in use. You have to take that in to account when you grind tools---so they're not really interchangeable with other systems. You've very well served to ditch the rocker post.chiefpeyotecoyote wrote: im not sure how you go about getting the tool geometry right if that makes sense.
I purchased my Sag 12 Graziano lathe 50 years ago (1967). It was shipped with a rocker tool post, which has never been on the machine in all those years. A rocker tool post, while relatively flexible in that you can pretty much achieve any tool angle required, is absolutely worthless for anyone who works with dials (or a DRO, for that matter). Once you coordinate the cutting tool with the dial, all is lost if you move the tool, so repetitive parts become very difficult to machine. Any kind of quick change, including the old standard square indexing turret, is leaps and bounds better.
You mentioned being a machinist, but never have used a rocker post. I was hired in the tool, die and gauge department at Tooele Army Depot during the Viet Nam war. They were engaged in rebuilding armored troop carrier, amongst many other projects. Imagine the shock I experienced when I showed up the first day, to find rocker tool posts on the lathes. We had to work (mandatory) five 12 hour days and two eight hour days weekly, which went on endlessly. They did everything they could to keep up production except provide equipment that would make one's time better spent. I lasted two months and couldn't take it any longer.
H