Quick change tool post

SingleStacker45 · Post by **SingleStacker45** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 7:05 pm

can someone recomend a quickchange tool post for my Grizzly 4015z. I'm really looking for the precise height adjustment.

Mule

Jose Rivera · Post by **Jose Rivera** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 12:22 am

I could not find a lathe with that model numbers at Grizzly.

What size is the lathe?

There are two option.
Buy American or Chinese.

Chinese holders and good enough for home use and even some commercial use also.
The only precision to control the tool height is a screw. None that I know have dials, but one can put an indicator and see how much is moving up or down.

The biggest advantage of Quick-change holders is that one can have many tools already set-up and be changed in seconds.

SingleStacker45 · Post by **SingleStacker45** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:26 am

http://grizzly.com/products/G4015Z

Here is the link. When I said precision I was refering to the screw adjuster. Right now I use shims for my tools which is OK but takes time and I am not as precise with my setup.

Mule

Falcon67 · Post by **Falcon67** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:09 pm

I'd be inclined to treat that as a glorified 10" lathe, meaning the AXA Phase II would likely be a good choice. Looks like a rather standard "9x20" tool post on there now.

Jose Rivera · Post by **Jose Rivera** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:14 pm

Also littlemachineshop.com sell holders.

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/produc ... uct+Search

SingleStacker45 · Post by **SingleStacker45** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:41 pm

http://littlemachineshop.com/products/p ... &category=

I like the looks of this. Any thoughts?

Mule

SingleStacker45 · Post by **SingleStacker45** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:09 pm

Here is a poor picture of my setup.

In action.

Mule

Jose Rivera · Post by **Jose Rivera** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 11:01 pm

Amazing that you're cutting without chatter.
Usually something that long can drive one crazy with chatter and the steady rest has to come to the rescue.

SingleStacker45 · Post by **SingleStacker45** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 7:40 am

Jose Rivera wrote:Amazing that you're cutting without chatter.
Usually something that long can drive one crazy with chatter and the steady rest has to come to the rescue.

It came out very smooth. I'm guessing it was a combo of very low speed(135 rpm) and the bar was soft alluminum and the flood helps. I was using a carbide tipped cutter. I really have no idea what I'm doing but I'm learning. I think I'm going for the above tool post from little machine shop. The tool height adjustment is driving me nuts.

Mule

Jose Rivera · Post by **Jose Rivera** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:53 pm

Mule, don't know if you already know this little old machinists trick.

I always use a 6" flex scale to set my height.
What I do is to gently pinch the flank of the scale with the tip of the cutter against the work-piece.

If not visibly square to normal square view surfaces, like the tool post or others, then move the tool up or down until you're square.
You can use a small square or something square as reference as well for more precision.

In any case at time having the tool just a hair high helps when you encounter some flexing

SingleStacker45 · Post by **SingleStacker45** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:24 pm

You mean like a feeler guage or flexible rule?

http://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-300 ... B00004T7SW

I have heard of pinning something between the cutter and the work to observe the angle although I never gave it much thought. I always have aligned the tool with the tailstock center. My biggest problem seems to be adding and removing shims to get it aligned. I never seem to have enough shims around. I need to increase my stock or go with the adjustable tool holder.

Mule

Jose Rivera · Post by **Jose Rivera** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 11:37 pm

Works better with a QC holder.
You got the idea.

Care must be taken when using a carbide cutter. To much pressure and it will chip-off the point.

Been doing that for some 35 years. Seldom use the tail-stock center but I do some times.

I think that best way to get dead center is to take a cut on the face of a bar until there is no dimple at all left.