Thread: Quick Change Toolpost Which Is Better

I am also looking at QCTP for my newly bought al960.

I find the shimming to centre height a bit of a pain and the qctp come with specfic holders eg for parting tools etc in any case.

I had decided to get an AXA as it is similar in bulk to the existing turret, the BXA is a bit bigger and i thought that it it might get in the way. Other holders are cheaper (a bit) too.

I have lost a couple of ebay auctions from a local bloke with the sets going for more than $200.

I found (thanks to another posting here) CDCO tools in the USA. The QCTP with 5 holders was $78 and additional holders are $8. The shipping is $43 and i was able to squeeze in a few other bits at v cheap prices. (inc a dial height guage, magnetic DTI base, 2 parting blades and a boring bar set) for a total of $218 us which is $251 aussie

Also Gavin has shown us a phot of his tangental tool holder- I have one too (an "eccentric diamond" holder) which is the best thing in the whole world. It only comes left handed- they have a vague plan to make other shapes.

I have also peered into my oil filler cap (ref Lather's woes) and have seen the dreaded swarf too- presumably from the threadcutting of the filler hole. I only have a couple of hours work on the machine so far and will look forward to flushing it all out on the W/E.
BTW they sent me the direct mount type 4 jaw with the lathe

So we have one 960 being fitted with an AXA style and one with a BXA style. This is going to be very instructive for those of us who haven't made up our minds yet. Russell & Stuart will be the pathfinders (aka guinea pigs) for the rest of us. Can either advise the largest shank size tools able to be held once they've fitted theirs, I have a number of carbide holders I'd want to keep using in any QCTP I fitted.

Originally Posted by steran50

HI,
Daves right it is an Aloris 222 BXA. The BXA is in the Items Title. As for the Postage No I didn't pay that much, there was 2 Postal Options when You click on 'see more services'. The first option was US$133.70 the second option was US$50.00 I opted for the US$50.00. The Total came to AU$226.54 . I was going to just get the Piston Type off them, but when I seen there was Postal Options i went for the Wedge Type instead.
I have already Paid for the Item so I will either make the other Holders when I need them or Buy them then. I intend to Buy more off them for example a Digital Quill Dro for My Mill Drill so I could get some more Holders then.

Hi,
Just a bit of info for you, if you notice in their add they have "For Aloris" these are Chinese copies of the famous American Aloris brand. If it was a true Aloris it would be worth around 6 times the amount you paid for it as seen in the link below.
Aloris Super Precision Tool Post Sets - emachinetool.com

Most people just refer to these ones as the Chinese wedge style BXA's.

Dave

Originally Posted by Gavin Newman

So we have one 960 being fitted with an AXA style and one with a BXA style. This is going to be very instructive for those of us who haven't made up our minds yet. Russell & Stuart will be the pathfinders (aka guinea pigs) for the rest of us. Can either advise the largest shank size tools able to be held once they've fitted theirs, I have a number of carbide holders I'd want to keep using in any QCTP I fitted.

Hi Gavin,
These links might help you to work out which one suits your tools and lathe.
http://www.aloris.com/catalog/aloris_p3.pdf
http://www.aloris.com/catalog/aloris_p4-5.pdf
Aloris Catalog -- Tool Posts | Quick Change Tooling

Dave

Originally Posted by Dave J

Hi,
Just a bit of info for you, if you notice in their add they have "For Aloris" these are Chinese copies of the famous American Aloris brand. If it was a true Aloris it would be worth around 6 times the amount you paid for it as seen in the link below.
Aloris Super Precision Tool Post Sets - emachinetool.com

Most people just refer to these ones as the Chinese wedge style BXA's.

Dave

Ta Dave...i just ordered one ...or two......i wasnt sure which one would fit .....ruddy hell ...remember that they are made of gold.... aren't they...lol

and thanks for posting the other links to help work out what I need when i buy the copy

No problem Eskimo,
I thought that might help, working out the heights. It's hard buying a new tool post not knowing if your buying the right one.
From what I have read the copies work good. The real Aloris are supposed to have a more quality feel about them and are better made (but at a price to rich for most hobbyist)
If you really want gold plated ,the Dorian tool post it has a triple wedge lock.

Dave

Originally Posted by Dave J

Dorian

is that a car they used in Back to the Future...well it sounded something like that...and I bet that stuff is even dearer...I'm not even to look at it... i might want one...lol

Dorian is also the maker of the timing transponder we use in motor racing in Australia. The unit is half the size of a packet of smokes and is around the $450 mark. Perhaps "dorian" is the word for bl00dy expensive in some foreign language

Eskimo, you could be the first Aussie to have one and give as all a review of it, lol
Going by the prices below it looks like they are they are around the same as Aloris tool posts for what looks like a better product.
Dorian Tool quick change lathe tool post sets.
Gromax Online
They have just brought out the new tool post, in the pictures below you can see the difference. The first one is the old design.
A full right up on them can be found here.
CandlePowerForums

Dave

Originally Posted by Dave J

Eskimo, you could be the first Aussie to have one and give as all a review of it, lol
Going by the prices below it looks like they are they are around the same as Aloris tool posts for what looks like a better product.
Dorian Tool quick change lathe tool post sets.
Gromax Online
They have just brought out the new tool post, in the pictures below you can see the difference. The first one is the old design.
A full right up on them can be found here.
CandlePowerForums

Dave

She keeps me broke as it is....i cant afford it Dave...

Originally Posted by eskimo

She keeps me broke as it is....i cant afford it Dave...

Be brave - if she finds out you could always "hide" it on my 960, I'd take good care of it for you.........

Originally Posted by Gavin Newman

Be brave - if she finds out you could always "hide" it on my 960, I'd take good care of it for you.........

if she finds out you wont be getting anything.......she wont know who to give it too...and I wont be alive to be able to tell her who...so we'll both miss out...

Originally Posted by rfurzer

I am also looking at QCTP for my newly bought al960.

I find the shimming to centre height a bit of a pain and the qctp come with specfic holders eg for parting tools etc in any case.

I had decided to get an AXA as it is similar in bulk to the existing turret, the BXA is a bit bigger and i thought that it it might get in the way. Other holders are cheaper (a bit) too.

I have lost a couple of ebay auctions from a local bloke with the sets going for more than $200.

I found (thanks to another posting here) CDCO tools in the USA. The QCTP with 5 holders was $78 and additional holders are $8. The shipping is $43 and i was able to squeeze in a few other bits at v cheap prices. (inc a dial height guage, magnetic DTI base, 2 parting blades and a boring bar set) for a total of $218 us which is $251 aussie

Also Gavin has shown us a phot of his tangental tool holder- I have one too (an "eccentric diamond" holder) which is the best thing in the whole world. It only comes left handed- they have a vague plan to make other shapes.

I have also peered into my oil filler cap (ref Lather's woes) and have seen the dreaded swarf too- presumably from the threadcutting of the filler hole. I only have a couple of hours work on the machine so far and will look forward to flushing it all out on the W/E.
BTW they sent me the direct mount type 4 jaw with the lathe

I came across this picture of the AXA and BXA side by side that I thought might interest you, they are sitting on a smaller 8x lathe compound.
I hope the AXA is not to small for your lathe, but going off the prices a bloke down your way is selling the AXA ones for on ebay for, you would make on it if it is too small and you sold it.

Dave

Thanks for the photo. The bxa sure is bigger! It may also be a bit bulky and get in the way of the tailstock. We'll see how we go, and will sell it on if no joy. BTW the guy at CDCO said that he "guaranteed" that it would work well. Not worth the pixels that it was typed on 'tho.

My Hercus 260 has a 10" swing and I'm considering trying one of these types of tool post but as a 10" swing fits into both the AXA and BXA range I was wondering if anyone else had fitted either to a similar sized lathe?
My feeling is that the BXA may be a bit bulky and have too much overhang from the top slide as the current original 4 way tool post is about 2.5" square which is the same as the AXA size?
Any of you blokes got any thoughts on this? All opinions gratefully received.
Cheers,
Greg.