Tailstock or carriage mounted tool holding turret?

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

When I have my ML7 restored, I need to make a large number of a particular item. A capstan lathe would be an ideal solution, but I don't have one!

Which type of turret would suit the ML7 best? A 2MT, capstan style turret for the tailstock or the Myford horizontal style turret that goes on the carriage?

The Myford style turret would seem to be by far the easiest one to make, but are there any snags in using it? I don't want to make the effort of constructing one, only to find there are snags in using it! Comments please?

Andrew.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

[Swarf, Mostly!Participant @swarfmostly]

Hi there, Andrew,

I have both but have never used either type but I will presume to offer a few comments anyway, if only to galvanise others!

It is worthy of some cogitation that the kit traditionally offered by Beeston Myford comprised the capstan turret (two variants – bed-mounted or cross-slide mounted), a manual cut-off slide (two variants – lever-operated or hand-wheel operated) and a multi-stop unit that mounted to the rear of the lathe bed. The cut-off slide could mount two tool-posts, e.g. front tool for facing & rear tool for parting-off. I guess which set-up would be best for you depends upon the details of the part you're making. Others can advise you better than I can.

While I'm here, though, I'm mystified by my cross-slide-mounted capstan unit – it has a most impressive 'waggle' lever that looks as though it ought to step the capstan round to the next position. In practice, it only seems to operate a detent bolt and it seems necessary to manually unlock and re-lock the capstan securing nut at each tool-change. I hope that subsequent posts in this thread will enlighten me as to whether my capstan unit is bust or just functionally challenged!

I don't have the multi-stop unit.  They seem to command mega-buck prices on eBay, considering that they are not coupled to the capstan and so need to be turned by the operator!

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Edited By Swarf, Mostly! on 16/12/2016 18:58:22

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Andrew,

Matchmaking is not my place, but … maybe you and Matty should talk:

**LINK**

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=123106&p=1

MichaelG.

[Brian OldfordParticipant @brianoldford70365]

I've both the turret and the multi-stop accessory. I've not used either yet but have one job coming up which may. Swarf, Mostly, If you turret is defective then so is mine.

[Author]

Posts