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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
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    Sydney
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    666

    Default Cut off tool holder modification

    I bought a cut off tool with carbide inserts to try on my lathe. Always wanted one and have converted over to inserts on my regular turning which I love.

    The tool holder I bought is 16mm tongue but my tool holders are smaller. I knew this and planned on milling the tongue down. But I’m wondering if I should instead try milling a dovetail in the holder itself and attach it straight to my tool post?

    It’s not got a lot of meat, but I thought it should be strong enough and would be a lot more rigid than mounting in another tool holder.

    What do people think?

    Dovetail or mill down?

    If meat of material is a concern I also have the option to weld on some extra steel on the top or bottom.






  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Laidley, SE Qld
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    1,038

    Default

    Maybe 5 years ago someone on here was showing their DIYed parting blade block with a dovetail to mount straight to the QCTP.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    54
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    825

    Default

    I dovetailed my carbide parting tool holder (Ausee), briefly covered in the following:

    https://metalworkforums.com/f65/t201...hlight=carbide

    It's was a bit of messing around because I had to make a carbide dovetail cutter as the parting holder material would eat HSS.
    Mine's a 16mm holder and thicker would probably be ideal but it's held up fine with a lot of use.

    The result is a lot more rigid than piggybacking the parting tool in a normal tool holder, to be honest I'm buggered if I know why they don't make them out of the box like this.
    Cheers,
    Greg.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Southern Flinders Ranges
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    1,536

    Default

    250-107 is the commercial made dovetail one

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
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    Sydney
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    666

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by racingtadpole View Post
    250-107 is the commercial made dovetail one
    Do they fit the carbide insert holders? I thought HSS only?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    melbourne australia
    Posts
    3,228

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by neevo View Post
    The tool holder I bought is 16mm tongue but my tool holders are smaller.
    You can get an AXA toolholder with a 16mm slot. Will save a lot of mucking around. It a 250-101XL.
    Chris

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,439

    Default

    Hi Neevo, Guys,

    I would mill a slot in a tool holder just wide and tall enough to be able to slide the blade in, then the pinch screws would grip it. It would also ensure that the blade was as near to vertical and horizontal as the holder was.

    60c3e43fc285d087ae5cd9c91018b541.jpg

    Where I have drawn the white line on your picture.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Age
    56
    Posts
    1,416

    Default

    I think if you want to go to the trouble of dovetail it would be better as less overhang.
    I would go with welding also to give it a bit more meat.

    On the lazy side mill it down to fit.

    Sent from my 5007U using Tapatalk
    Using Tapatalk

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Southern Flinders Ranges
    Posts
    1,536

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by neevo View Post
    Do they fit the carbide insert holders? I thought HSS only?
    The couple I looked at suggested they were general purpose in the ad, but the pictures seem to suggest they probably only accept a HSS tool

    Pretty sure I found an all in one dovetail one that took inserts when I was looking at them before I was given a lifetime supply of HSS parting blanks. I’ll have a look and see what I can find

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Sydney
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    666

    Default

    Well I’ve bitten the bullet and started milling the holder. I used my HSS roughing end mill to start and it was going well until I could see some sparks. Looks like I’ve burnt up the end but I’ll check it on some steel next time.

    Thought I’d try some cheap eBay carbide end mills and the way they dealt with the toughened holder was incredible!!!

    I could push through with half cutter width passes and with some air on the end of the tool the chips were flying off like those CNC videos!

    Took no time at all to cut the slot:



    9.7mm depth and 34.7mm width. The chips weren’t even getting hot so I suspect I could have pushed the surface speed a lot more too:



    Now I need to find a carbide 60 degree dovetail cutter to finish it off.

    Anyone got some advice on the roughing end mill? Is it toast?


  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Sydney
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    Default

    My carbide dovetail cutter arrived today. A bargain price for a carbide tipped 20mm 60 degree cutter and arrived in less than a week.

    Milled out the dovetail without issue:



    After this I set the holder up in the mill again and drilled and tapped a blind hole for the thread that will hold the adjuster:



    I went with an 8mm stud despite all my other holders being 10mm, but I thought it was safer give the available space. I have yet to complete the stud etc and I need to buy some suitable bits.

    Test fit:


    Couldn’t resist a test cut:

    https://youtube.com/shorts/3SuNJWj42R4?feature=share

    Wow is it easier to part off with carbide than HSS. I think I’m converted!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Laidley, SE Qld
    Posts
    1,038

    Default

    I recall that the parting tool block I mentioned above had the height adjustment screw moved forward to where there is enough material to safely tap a 10mm thread.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
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    Default

    Calling it done. I’ve ordered an M8x60mm set screw to finish off the adjuster and tonight I whipped up a quick adjusting knob.

    Ignore my knurling, I can’t for the life of me figure out how to get a diamond knurl. I know it has something to do with the diameter but I generally just try and get whatever. It does have lots of grip



    I was going to make the thumb screw with Alu but I don’t have any in the right size. In the end the no name steel worked fine and the parting tool was again a breeze to use. I’m really excited and I think it’s going to transform my ability to part

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    sydney ( st marys )
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    64
    Posts
    4,887

    Default

    Do you use a single or double wheel knurl.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Sydney
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    666

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by pipeclay View Post
    Do you use a single or double wheel knurl.
    It’s a double wheel. One of those crap cheap ones that you just push in to the work with the crossslide.

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