Thread: QCTP Question

With a lot of discussion regularly on here about QCTP and a lot of varying prices, I am unsure of what size would suit my dear old lathe (more than a hundred years). Its has a swing of 130mm over the flat bed so I can turn up to 260 mm diameter before removing the gap. The measurement from the saddle to the centre is 80mm. So what size set would be appropriate?

The next deliberation I need to go through is whether the expense is warranted. Is there a huge benefit using QCTP over a 4 sided tool post?

Here's a bit of a guide that may be helpful.
QUICK CHANGE TOOLPOST SET (6PCS) - WEDGE TYPE #L137 | CTC Tools

It's the best thing that I ever did. And in my opinion the 40 position type is the only one to go for. Mine cost me just on $1000.00 from Alibaba about 4 years ago. I did get 12 tool holders though. Good luck.
Eric

For that size lathe I would definitely recommend an AXA sized toolpost. I have the 250-100 sized model as Gestalt posted, and it serves me well. Buy that kit, then buy another half dozen plain tool holders from Banggood as I posted in the other thread.

A QCTP is the single biggest enhancement in productivity you can buy for a lathe. You save time every single tool change, and on any even slightly complex turning job that time adds up. Not only that, you're more likely to use the right tool for the job instead of compromising on the tool you have on the toolpost at that moment - it's got to the stage now where I'll swap out tools of the same geometry, just to get an insert suitable for the material at hand.

I wish I had done it years before I did.

Originally Posted by chambezio

The next deliberation I need to go through is whether the expense is warranted. Is there a huge benefit using QCTP over a 4 sided tool post?

Is there any significant difference between having a heap of 4 way tool posts with the tools permanently set at the right heights and a QCTP with a heap of individual toolholders ? Does anybody work like this - I've read about this idea but haven't got the experience to know which might be better and why.

Bill

Hi Bill, although I have never used a QCTP, one advantage which comes to mind, is that if you have a 4 way tool post, and you need to sharpen a cutting tool, the tool height will likely change a bit which you will allow for by shimming it with packing shims. A QCTP on the other hand has an adjustment screw which you can adjust by hand and then lock, much quicker and more convenient than finding the right packing shim combination normally. Even without that advantage, to change tools, the QCTP needs about a quarter turn to unlock, change out the tool holder, and then a quarter turn to lock it up again compared to several turns to both unlock and then lock up again with the 4 way tool post.
Rob.