Indexable tool holders

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Indexable tool holders

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  • #431013
    David Keil 1
    Participant
      @davidkeil1

      Hi all. Having absolutely no engineering knowledge or background I am trying to find information on the best indexable tools and tips for my project.

      So a little background first……I have a peatol/taig lathe, and am attempting to make a skeleton clock. Cutting of brass is no problem but the turning of stainless steel required for pivots is problematic.

      Can anyone recommend which indexable tips are best for turning stainless steel to a fairly good finish.

      Many thanks

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      #431026
      Anonymous
        Posted by David Keil 1 on 29/09/2019 10:43:21:

        Can anyone recommend which indexable tips are best for turning stainless steel to a fairly good finish.

        My best advice would be don't bother.

        Your lathe simply isn't going to have the power or speeds to make best use of insert tooling on stainless steel. Even on industrial lathes the finish is highly dependent upon the type of stainless, assuming that we're talking austenitic here. Grade 303 turns well as does 316, but 304 is horrid stuff. Even then getting a good finish can take some experimentation in terms of speeds, feeds and coolant or not.

        As an aside stainless steel seems an odd choice for pivots? I thought pivots normally used pivot steel, ie, hardened and tempered carbon steel.

        Either way you should be able to cut both materials with HSS tooling without any problems.

        Andrew

        #431027
        David Keil 1
        Participant
          @davidkeil1

          oops, I meant to say silver steel not stainless steel!

          #431029
          JasonB
          Moderator
            @jasonb

            David, several recent threads that should cover your questions here here here and here

            Edited By JasonB on 29/09/2019 12:29:18

            #431030
            SillyOldDuffer
            Moderator
              @sillyoldduffer

              Used 'properly' carbide doesn't cut in the same way as HSS. Best performance is achieved by using a heavy machine with a powerful motor to wedge a rather blunt cutter into metal at high speed, feed-rate and depth-of-cut. Not many of us have machines capable of getting the best out of carbide.

              Small lathe, small motor as per Taig means you can't use Carbide in Superman mode. However I've had considerable success using the sharp inserts intended for Aluminium on steel, including Silver Steel. Many inserts, especially the sharp ones designed for non-ferrous metals, work well at ordinary HSS speeds, or higher if the lathe can do it, without needing a machine in the Incredible Hulk class. The professionals wouldn't deliberately choose the wrong insert at the wrong speed rate, but then they wouldn't be using a Taig either.

              I find carbide inserts save a lot of bother and use them at least 80% of the time despite my machines not being ideal. HSS is a good alternative but has to be kept sharp: I tend to save it for the rare occasions when carbide fails to get a good finish.

              Main problem with non-ferrous inserts is their sharp tips are a little delicate. Try not to bash them about or drop them on a concrete floor.

              Dave

              #431054
              Vic
              Participant
                @vic
                Posted by Russell Eberhardt on 14/09/2013 09:50:41:

                Personally, I've tried some of these height setting gadgets and find the easiest way is to set the tool height by eye against the tailstock centre and then take a trial facing cut across some scrap and make fine adjustments to eliminate any central pip.

                Russell.

                I use insert tooling in a four way and they are permanently set to centre height by machining the bottom of the holders or bonding spacers underneath. One of my most used tools is a Tangential though so that needs height setting after sharpening so I made this which is very quick and easy to use.

                3cc85565-514d-4879-a16f-79c56048ce02.jpeg

                #431056
                Anonymous
                  Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 29/09/2019 12:10:06:

                  Used 'properly' carbide doesn't cut in the same way as HSS. Best performance is achieved by using a heavy machine with a powerful motor to wedge a rather blunt cutter into metal at high speed, feed-rate and depth-of-cut.

                  In both cases the metal is removed with a shearing action, it's simply a matter of degree in terms of speeds and feeds. I get swarf that looks the same irrespective of whether it's cut with HSS or carbide inserts.

                  Silver steel can be cut with HSS tooling. These silver steel taps were roughed out with carbide, but the threads were cut with a HSS tool and the flutes were milled with a HSS form cutter.

                  finished_taps.jpg

                  Andrew

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