The Home Machinist!

As I have mentioned in a post regarding my Scharmann 3" horz. Boring mill. I need to establish a tool holding system for this machine and since it has only a MT5 spindle bore and now draw bolt, I want to convert to some thing other than the old wedge key lock of the MT set up.

I already have a modest collection of NMTB 40 tool holders and have found an adapter from MT5 to NMTB 40 which uses the "flashchange" tool holder retention system.

Only a couple, at the most, of my 40 taper holders have the flashchange notch. How difficult is it to locate and machine or grind that notch in the correct location. Is this a common practice or should I seek out tool holders that come with this notch. I just don't see many on ebay and was wondering?? Is there a taper to this notch to create a wedging effect??

Comments, suggestions or opinions welcome.

Steve

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Jet vertical Mill, Champion 12X30 lathe, Amer. Mach. Tool radial drill, 24"X60" LeBlond lathe, Scharmann 3" Hrz Brg Mill, Steptoe 18" Shaper, South Bend Shaper, Jet 14" Power Hacksaw, B & S (No.4 36") Gear Cutting Mach., Wm Pilton vert. Slotter, Enco 12" horz. saw, McEnglevan MP36 foundry furnace, Rockwell 14"X42" lathe, K&T 2H univ horz. mill

Steve,
Any chance you can show a picture of the notch in question? I'm not the least bit familiar with the geometry, but may be able to see a way to make alterations if I had a clue what I was looking for.

Harold

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Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.

What I have looked at is a MT5 to NMTB 40 Taper holder.
Here is a picture of the holder from the ebay ad.



The Flash Change or NMTB 40 taper with the notch don't seem that common and here are a couple picture of the notch.





I think I would prefer the Weldon quick change chuck system, especially since I already have a large collection of tool holder and arbors. However, it just seems like "too large a leap" from MT5 to the Wolden which appears to be about a 50 taper. The two set screws in this system are pretty simple and if the taper is a true NMTB 50 then the set screw notches would be easy on standard "50" tool holders.

Just my thoughts, for what they are worth.

Steve

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Jet vertical Mill, Champion 12X30 lathe, Amer. Mach. Tool radial drill, 24"X60" LeBlond lathe, Scharmann 3" Hrz Brg Mill, Steptoe 18" Shaper, South Bend Shaper, Jet 14" Power Hacksaw, B & S (No.4 36") Gear Cutting Mach., Wm Pilton vert. Slotter, Enco 12" horz. saw, McEnglevan MP36 foundry furnace, Rockwell 14"X42" lathe, K&T 2H univ horz. mill

I expect the adapters are too hard to machine without issues, but there's no reason why that notch can't be created by a surface or T&C grinder. Surface would likely be the best choice, so coolant could be used.

Interesting setup. Now I'm curious how it works.

Harold

_________________
Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.

I'm wondering if the chuck clamp is an eccentric or tapered pin?? I'd like to get my hands on one or have someone chime in that has or had one.
I can't tell from the end-one view of the one for sale but will look around for a different one.

Steve

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Jet vertical Mill, Champion 12X30 lathe, Amer. Mach. Tool radial drill, 24"X60" LeBlond lathe, Scharmann 3" Hrz Brg Mill, Steptoe 18" Shaper, South Bend Shaper, Jet 14" Power Hacksaw, B & S (No.4 36") Gear Cutting Mach., Wm Pilton vert. Slotter, Enco 12" horz. saw, McEnglevan MP36 foundry furnace, Rockwell 14"X42" lathe, K&T 2H univ horz. mill

I seen a #50 taper that had a notch milled in it. The spindle had two 1/2" set screws that pushed the taper into the socket, rather than the taper being drawn in with a draw bolt. Could this be what happens on the system you are talking about?


Richard W.

That sounds more like the Weldon tool holder system. I have that type of chuck for my quick change on my K&T horz. mill.
If I could fine a similar type that goes from MT5 to quick change Weldon I would but think that is too large a step up in size, the #50 tool holders being a lot heavier than one would drive with the MT5. Just my thoughts.

The largest I have seen in adapters is #40 taper in tool holders or quick change chucks.

I am thinking of just staying with the MT5 and make the plug slots as required for the frequently use tools like the boring head or drill chuck and standard size mill holders.

Looking back at my late friends Roy's ole Gidding Lewis HBM, it had the same size spindle with MT taper. I now remember he just had a single set screw in the spindle and looking at a few of his larger drill bits, that I now have in my collection, I see where he had just made a notch on the taper of the bit, where that set screw would rest. Worked for him for 40 years.

Beginning I'm making this too complicated. Ya think??

Steve

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Jet vertical Mill, Champion 12X30 lathe, Amer. Mach. Tool radial drill, 24"X60" LeBlond lathe, Scharmann 3" Hrz Brg Mill, Steptoe 18" Shaper, South Bend Shaper, Jet 14" Power Hacksaw, B & S (No.4 36") Gear Cutting Mach., Wm Pilton vert. Slotter, Enco 12" horz. saw, McEnglevan MP36 foundry furnace, Rockwell 14"X42" lathe, K&T 2H univ horz. mill

Could be, but it's hard to know. Could be there's something we don't understand, but if a screw simply loads the taper in the socket, sure sounds like it would be an easy alteration. I'm curiously standing by to see how it shakes out.

Harold

_________________
Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.

So I have finally selected the FlashChange system for this machine. (Scharmann 3" HBM)

So far I only found one seller of the MT5 to Flashchange 40 taper chuck. His price was more than I wanted to pay but I eventually made a deal for the chuck, a flashchange boring bar and a shell face mill mount holder, in a package deal. The 5MT was the main thing, Not common.

As I turns out I only have a couple NMTB 40 holders and only one has the flashchange notch. I have since done some ebay and google searching for tool holders for this system. There are hundreds of tool holders out there for sale and I can't see any need to look farther into the process needed to create the notch in a standard 40 taper holder. Prices are actually cheaper through some used tool vendors than on ebay. I had to pay about $45 for each tool holder, to make this deal but could have done better with other sellers, some for around $35-45. That is about what I had been paying for standard NMTB 40 holders in fair condition.



Thanks for all the input on this issue.

Steve

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Jet vertical Mill, Champion 12X30 lathe, Amer. Mach. Tool radial drill, 24"X60" LeBlond lathe, Scharmann 3" Hrz Brg Mill, Steptoe 18" Shaper, South Bend Shaper, Jet 14" Power Hacksaw, B & S (No.4 36") Gear Cutting Mach., Wm Pilton vert. Slotter, Enco 12" horz. saw, McEnglevan MP36 foundry furnace, Rockwell 14"X42" lathe, K&T 2H univ horz. mill