Quorn Tool and Cutter Grinder

[sslry]

Who among us has and has used a Quorn tool and cutter grinder? Is the project worth while?

On the subject of casting kits for tools, I had a great time building a filing machine using a kit from http://www.statecollegecentral.com/meta ... LA-18.html . The castings were beautiful, easy to machine with no flaws, the plans are excellent. It was a very pleasant project and created a useful tool.

[-=ed]

It's a very complicated piece of work.
You might want to try something else that's not so involved
just sayin'

[hammermill]

there are a few build documentations on the web, you will need the book also.

it is definitively a advanced level project.



http://www.duncanamps.com/metal/project ... /index.php this will give you a idea.


http://www.metalwebnews.com/howto/quorn/quorn.html and a few more thoughts.

[JTiers]

I have heard that project described as more of a career than a project......

I find it very hard to believe that it is worth the time that many have apparently spent on it. However, I have also heard of folks drastically simplifying the details, things like the ball handles, and getting just as good a machine with far less trouble.

[sslry]

there are a few build documentations on the web, you will need the book also.

it is definitively a advanced level project.



http://www.duncanamps.com/metal/project ... /index.php this will give you a idea.


http://www.metalwebnews.com/howto/quorn/quorn.html and a few more thoughts.

Thanks to all who replied. The photos and comments on the web sites are excellent. My initial thought on seeing these photos and comments was to eliminate a time consuming project of making balls. Seems a waste when tapered handles into a simple bar on the bolt end would work just fine. It looks like there are several options for simplifying the machine. The function of the machine would be more important to me than the beauty of the balls and filled finishes.

The problem so far is that no one has commented on the operation of the machine and what wonderful things it will do. Is it worth building in that regard?

Thanks again,

Jim

[-=ed]

I saw the pictures of the castings, and I remember them as being a bit less rough in appearance.

I guess things change.

[jpfalt]

I built one of the Martin Model casting sets into a Quorn T&C grinder and the results are good. I also own a Cinncinnatti #2 and Jet T&C grinders and use the Quorn for small work. I've been happy with it and use the Quorn for small cutters.

Things I did to avoid the fiddly bits included switching to flush recessed socket head cap screws for most of the clamps and locks and I used Thompson case 60 shafting for the bed rods, column and spindles. The case 60 shafting is hardened and chromed on the OD, about .060" deep. the core of the shaft is soft enough to machine easily. I did not put the spiral groove in the vertical column and haven't needed it. I also bored the spindle bearing housing to fit a Unimat SL lathe spindle cartridge and used the WW collet geometry to mount the grinding wheel so that I could use watchmakers lathe collets to use mounted points and shaft mounted grinding wheels.

I still have a set if indexing head castings to machine up to use on the Quorn as well as on a pillar tool I also built from a casting set.

[sslry]

I built one of the Martin Model casting sets into a Quorn T&C grinder and the results are good. I also own a Cinncinnatti #2 and Jet T&C grinders and use the Quorn for small work. I've been happy with it and use the Quorn for small cutters.

Things I did to avoid the fiddly bits included switching to flush recessed socket head cap screws for most of the clamps and locks and I used Thompson case 60 shafting for the bed rods, column and spindles. The case 60 shafting is hardened and chromed on the OD, about .060" deep. the core of the shaft is soft enough to machine easily. I did not put the spiral groove in the vertical column and haven't needed it. I also bored the spindle bearing housing to fit a Unimat SL lathe spindle cartridge and used the WW collet geometry to mount the grinding wheel so that I could use watchmakers lathe collets to use mounted points and shaft mounted grinding wheels.

I still have a set if indexing head castings to machine up to use on the Quorn as well as on a pillar tool I also built from a casting set.

"jpfalt", thank you for your input and experience.

[hammermill]

several friends from across the pond have built and love the ones they have. looking on the adds in homeshop machinist thier are several places to get castings here in the us.

[BClem]

I built one from castings acquired from 'Power Model Supply' a 'few' years ago. I have used it for most any and all milling cutters and lathe tools. An acme lathe tool is a cinch on it... The set-ups can be tedious so 'one off' tools are a compromise in time spent - do a number of them on a set-up. Go ahead and make the ball end grinding micrometer for setting up ball bend mills to grind - that works very well!

I have removed the head and mounted it to an arbor mounted in the mill for small, on-the-spot grinding jobs. The grinding head could also be used as a tool post grinder as well.....

The construction is fairly straight forward but more recently, folks have made some very good modifications to the parts and their machining. I did this one straight from Professor Chaddock's drawings and text with the circular 'T' slot and all. The use of the Tompson or Tusk hardened and chromed shafting for the ways and column is very tempting to redo this one to incorporate - the mild steel shafting is prone to scratching, scuffing and galding - and you just don't oil it!

Over all it was worth the time spent but you must keep the set-up text close at hand until you become more familiar with relief angles and other cutter geometry.

BillClem.

Also may mention: I tack welded the two way support castings together for machining to insure absolute parallelism of the two way rods and accuracy of the vertical column. They were aligned as rough castings and tacked in about five spots between them with Allstate 275 welding rod then sliced apart after machining with a cutoff wheel. I will guarantee absolutely parallel ways on this Quorn! Actually this machine could be made using mild steel or cast iron blocks - chunks.... The headstock and its adjustment may be easier with castings.

[AndrewMawson]

He he ..... if you think that the Quorn is complex to make, you should see the model that Professor Chaddock was making that necessitated the design of the Quorn in the first place. It's a very detailed Rolls Royce aero engine that is now held by the SM&EE in London

[-=ed]

Does anyone ever SELL a Quorn?