Myford ML7 questions

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Hi Peter,

Myford user group..

Regards

Terry

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Having used the lath properly last night I relise I need an on/off switch. Its curently switch on/off at the socket which I have to reach over the lather to get to. Not very safe.

Any suggestion as to what I can buy that will sit at the front of the lathe

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Hi Peter

I strongly recommend a NVR switch – this will ensure that if the mains go off whilst you are using the machine that it does not spring back into life when the mains come back –  and you may have your fingers in the works! They often come with a big "panic" button so that you can hit the "stop" easily. To see the cheapest I've come across click here

Cheers

Norman

Edited By NJH on 17/03/2012 08:12:26

Edited By NJH on 17/03/2012 08:12:59

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Ordered

Spooky just been looking at the exact same switch on ebay and Warco site but £30!!

So thanks a lot, extra curry for me tonight

Edited By petro1head on 17/03/2012 09:18:54

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I use these things, got three for a fiver from Morrisons

http://www.ecosavers.nl/?page_id=126

Very handy for switching awkward to access switches on and off.

Now I walk in and switch everything on remotely.

Even better, if something goes dangerously wrong on the lathe I can run away and switch it off remotely from a safe distance…not that anything ever will…I'm much too good for that…

They use the same sort of digital coding as car keys so the chances that anyone else can switch it on when your piggies are doing something inside the danger zone are the same as they are for someone accidently unlocking your car

[chris stephensParticipant @chrisstephens63393]

I note all you guys seem to be recommending a QC tool post for its ease of tool height adjustment. For someone on a budget a homemade, or even bought, Tangential tool holder will give easy height adjustment and superior cutting all in one, and save the cash too.

While I have something like 14 QC holders for my Bantam, on my Myford I just have a 4 way post and don't miss the Dixon at all. For beginners tooling, a Tangential tool, a parting tool and a boring tool will do quite a lot. As for tail stock chucks, splash out on a Keyless as they really do save time.

chriStephens

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Posted by chris stephens on 17/03/2012 14:59:09:

I note all you guys seem to be recommending a QC tool post for its ease of tool height adjustment. For someone on a budget a homemade, or even bought, Tangential tool holder will give easy height adjustment and superior cutting all in one, and save the cash too…………..

chriStephens

Hi Chris,

I don't have any experience with a tangential holder so I can't really comment on it. I can see your argument about height adjustment of a tangential holder but I'm not sure about the money saving as an Eccentric Engineering Tangential with grinding jig costs over £80 with postage but a Dickson Type from RDG with 4 holders costs just over £70 including postage. That would be a good saving to put towards tool bits or a keyless tailstock chuck.

By the way, the spelling is Dickson as RDG (among others) wrongly spell it. With an X is my spelling

Best regards

Terry Dixon

[chris stephensParticipant @chrisstephens63393]

Hi Terry,

I have to admit I was thinking of genuine tool holders, when working out the budget, not the "questionable" quality eastern imports, and is it any wonder that I make my own Tangentials for a few quids worth of metal.

As for the spelling, clearly I did not want to risk my post getting lost in a spam filter.

chriStephens

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Is this – http://www.warco.co.uk/quick-change-tool-posts/209-quick-change-tool-post—90-115mm-centre-height.html – not the same and if so at under £60 is good value?

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

Cheapest way is probably two buy 1 or 2 extra 4way toolposts, then you have at least 4 tools set up ready. Personally don't have much trouble with shimming, but I'm not on peicework.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Apart from the NVR switch which seems to be down to £15 and such a bargain I might get one as a spare I think you should slow down on the buying front and get some experience in. You are clearly not going to be changing tools so often you need a QC it's a hobby so forget it for a year or twenty.

You still need to grind tools one day even if you use inserted tips or carbide tools most of the time.

So just google " 6 bench grinder" for £22 else you get some silly prices. (Sure you will need to make a better tool rest later) and a 4 inch long 1/4 HSS tool bit from eg Tracy Tools. It has 2 ends to play with and at 1/4 is less tedious to grind than a 10mm one to start with.

You don't need a fancy height guage. A 2 inch nail in the 3 jaw point out and set by eye is fine to start, then face a bit of bar adjusting to 'no pip'. Now your one tool is on center put a Coke can (or pepsi etc) on the bed and scratch a line all round with the tool. On material > 3/8 set the tool a tad above center – this produces an outward force that pushes the cross slide back on its nut to take up the slack (it's in the Boxford manual but they don't give the reason. Millions of apprentices taught it but didn't understand so they ignore it).

Now get off the shopping channel and turn some metal

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I think you should slow down on the buying front and get some experience in.

 

My sentiments too.

Not buying instant answers can also stimulate the braincell to try alternative solutions.

I do a lot of cutting from the back, with the tool upside down because with the toolpost height set up for dead centre this means no shimming is required for whatever size of hss or carbide you decide to slide in.

Slide in 1/8" to 1/2 "…tighten the bolt…and go for it

 

So get some trigger time in first

 

A lot of "solutions" are industry driven experience from production line outputs etc

One bod with a lathe doesn't always need the same approach, especially at the start.

 

Edited By Ady1 on 18/03/2012 11:14:16

[capnahabParticipant @capnahab]

Norman,

thats an impressive array of tool holders, – I'm with you on the diamond tool holder. I am very much a novice but found it very simple to use and gives excellent results. It also makes grinding the tools a doddle. Using round tool steel gives an excellent finish. Heres a not very good video.

Can I ask , – what's the best way to make the handle you have for the QCTP fit the usual nut ?.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Had my lathe for about 26 yrs (I think), only just realised that I'm supposed to need a quick change tool post, I think I'll just carry on as I have, I'm not running a production line, and a few seconds extra tool setting is nothing compaired to the rest of my time waisting. Just keep the packing with each tool, and adjust after sharpening. Ian S C

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Hi Pete,

It looks ok but only comes with 2 tool holders which cost about £12 each. The 5pc one here from RDG has 4 holders including parting tool and boring bar holders which you will find essential. Gordons suggestion of a 4 weay toolpost is not a bad idea if you can find one. With those the tools usually need shimming up to height.

Like Gordon I don't find that too bad a chore using shims that I cut from various sources such as drinks cans and sheet steel. I keep the tool with it's shims once I have set it. It then makes it easier to use next time. If you are not pressed for time it's not a bad system and cheaper than a QC toolpost.

I intend to make a tangential tool holder like Chris which makes setting a doddle.

Regards

Terry.

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Hi "Capnahab"

It's just a bit of 20mm bar drilled and tapped to fit the toolpost stud and replaces the standard nut. The "thick" washer gets the handle up out of the way and, as previously "posted" , can be adjusted in thickness to allow the handle to sit in an appropriate position.

Cheers

Norman

[Gordon AParticipant @gordona]

Hi Peter,

You obviously have been given some very sound advice so far, but if you are new to the ML7, I trust that you are aware of the need for correct lubrication, particularly the headstock spindle.

Apologies if I am trying to preach to the converted.

Regards,

Gordon.

[David LittlewoodParticipant @davidlittlewood51847]

Ady – upside-down tools will only fit the holder without adjustment if the difference in level between top of tool shank and tool point is identical. This will not normally be the case.

Four way tool posts – spawn of the devil, avoid. If you need a boring tool (and you will) it becomes a 3-way tool holder – and however you do it, there is always one tool precisely placed to stick in your hand. And the machining you can do with 3 tools is very limited indeed.

Interchangeable holders only needed for industrial/production use? Not really; I'd far rather be machining something than faffing with little bits of packing, did it for a few years and it's tedious.

Parting/boring tool holders essential for a Dickson set up? Well, no, they are not. The best parting tool I have ever used (Q-cut) fits a standard holder, and almost all the boring bars I use have flat bases and therefore again fit in standard holders. I have several of the parting/boring holders, but have trouble thinking of worthwhile uses for them.

David

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Can someone confirm what chuck key I need. I have measured the square hole and it looks like its a smidge over 5/16"

Edited By petro1head on 21/03/2012 12:07:28

[Andy EnnisParticipant @andyennis77901]

OK, first post from an absolute novice, so please be gentle with me.

I've recently bought an old ML7, that came with a Dickson type QCTP, and a few 12mm tools, which I soon discovered I could not get to cut on cetre height, they were way above.

I have since bought a 10mm indexable tool, which again is still above centre height. No matter what I do to adjust it, it is still riding about half a mm too high.

Should I be looking at buying even smaller tooling, and if so should I go for 8mm or 6mm.

Or is it that I am just making a stupid beginners mistake

Many thanks

Andy

PS, I am 99% sure that the QCTP came from RDG tools, if that helps!

[David LittlewoodParticipant @davidlittlewood51847]

Andy,

Welcome to the forum.

I have not had any problem putting 10 mm tools in my Dickson holders on my S7. However, it is fair to say that the margin before the toolholder bottoms out is a hair's breadth in some cases.

Some thoughts which may (or may not!) help:

(1) First – and forgive me if this insults your intelligence, but you did say you were a beginner…. I assume from your question that you know how to adjust the tool height by moving the clamping nut on the holders, but have you checked that there is no trace of swarf at the base of the toolpost which stops the holder bedding down as far as it will go? I have had this happen to me before now.

(2) There can be some slight (fractions of a mm) variation in centre height between different examples of the same lathe. Measure yours, and also the height above the cross-slide and top-slide, you will find these are very useful reference figures to have noted down anyway (write them down on or in the instruction book if you have one). I'm not aware that there is any difference in the height over topslide between ML7 and S7, but I supppose it is possible.

(3) There is also a slight variation in the thickness of the bottom part of the Dickson holders I have from various sources, maybe 1/4 – 1/2 mm. Examine yours and see if some of them work.

(4) There is no reason why you should not take half a mm off the bottom of the tool shank; the indexable holders are AFAIK made of reasonably-machinable steel.

David

PS – One final gentle suggestion – it may be better, when you have a new question, to start a new thread rather than append your question to one which petered out 5 months ago. Makes it easier for people to see what you are asking about, for one thing; not everybody reads every thread.

Edited By David Littlewood on 16/08/2012 11:39:48

[Andy EnnisParticipant @andyennis77901]

David,

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I have checked the toolpost and the holder to ensure that they are all clean and free from swarf.

I think I will have a go at machining 1/2 a mm or so from the bottom of the tool shank, as you suggest.

Sorry about resurrecting an old thread, I spend a fair amount of time on the Modelflying.co.uk forum which is run by the same parent company as M.E & M.E.W.. The moderators on there don't appreciate you starting a new thread if there has been a thread about a similar subject

[Malcolm WrightParticipant @malcolmwright25353]

Hi, does anybody know who might supply an unfinished backplate for a Myford lever operated collet chuck? Regards, Malcolm

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