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24th Mar 2018, 07:26 PM #1.
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- Nov 2008
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A Simple Retractable Threading Tool
I know there is the swing up tool and the much copied George Thomas retractable but the toolholder that appealed to me most was that offered by Multifix.
img7.jpg
A YouTube video showing the simple inner workings of the Multifix provided a couple of useful screen captures which served as a starting point.
2.jpg 3.JPG
I do not own a Multifix toolpost, I have a variation of a Dickson, so the greatest deviation from the original retractable was the mount. Another deviation was the use of a formerly 20mm square indexable toolholder, turned and ground to a diameter of 16mm. The body of the tool is 1045, the bushes, 4E cast iron and all the other components, excluding fixings, 4140.
The tool works nicely. Until now nearly all of the metric threads I have cut on the lathe have been cut manually with a spindle mounted crank handle. Here is one of the tool's M8 height adjustment screws under power at 100 rpm -
DSC_9133 1 (Large).jpg
The tool...
DSC_9163 (Large).JPG DSC_9152 (Large).JPG DSC_9164 (Large).jpg DSC_9154 (Large).JPG DSC_9155 (Large).JPG DSC_9157 (Large).jpg DSC_9158 (Large).jpg DSC_9159 (Large).jpg DSC_9168 (Large).JPG DSC_9142 (Large).jpg
And finally, a special thank you to Peter Fou, Alan and Piers.
BT
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24th Mar 2018, 07:52 PM #2Senior Member
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- Jul 2007
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- Perth
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- 332
Bob,
What a beauty, the end result has justified the journey both visually and operationally I suspect, well done. Looking forward to what your next construction project will be. Alan.
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24th Mar 2018, 07:58 PM #3Most Valued Member
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- Apr 2012
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- Healesville
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- 2,129
That is a beautifully crafted tool Bob, and quite a few hrs of work and think time i'd say.
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24th Mar 2018, 08:40 PM #4.
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- Nov 2008
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- Perth WA
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- 71
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Thank you Alan.
The next thing will probably be something simple like an adaptor to mount the Ifanger threading tool in the retractable. I can think about that one while I'm painting the kitchen window!
Thank you Shed.
Work commenced on the 22nd of November last year with the transformation of the indexable toolholder.
DSC_8493 (Large).jpg
For me, this has been a short duration project!!!!
BT
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24th Mar 2018, 09:47 PM #5Senior Member
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Location
- Castlemaine
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- 244
Congratulations BT,
A First class job and photography to match.
There is only one thing missing.......You need a pantograph to add a "Makers mark"/Initials ala Stefan Gotteswinter.
Cheers
Piers
P.S Once you have painted the windows, if you run out of projects for the shed the DSG has a size B Multifix.............
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25th Mar 2018, 10:02 AM #6Golden Member
- Join Date
- Jun 2004
- Location
- Kyabram. Vic
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- 632
Beautiful job Bob.
I do suspect that you may have a "problem" with all things Swiss. Then even to outdo their quality.
Ken
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25th Mar 2018, 04:06 PM #7.
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- Nov 2008
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- Perth WA
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Something like this Piers? //metalworkforums.com/f65/t1568...31#post1531731
005 (Large).JPG
Thanks for the kind words and for the encouragement throughout the project's duration. As for the size B, the 13 had difficulty accommodating the boy's version so it's probably a job for the Maho. Sorry.
BT
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25th Mar 2018, 04:16 PM #8.
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- Nov 2008
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- Perth WA
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Ha Ken,
It's got to be the oil smeared on the camera lens. The Swissness must be because the oil's from a Reilang can!!
Thanks very much for the kind words though. The surface finish is courtesy of my little Douglas shaper and the cheap as chips imitation Korloy inserts Joe put me onto. The little mill probably added a bit too.
Bob.
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25th Mar 2018, 08:27 PM #9
Bob,
What a marvelous tool! Well done. It is on my project list also, but since I have an original AI retractable toolpost it has not earned a high place yet ( and given the length of my list.....).
Any plans for its cousin, for internal threading? I was was thinking it might be possible to just make a modified toolholder and swap them out?
Peter
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25th Mar 2018, 09:18 PM #10Golden Member
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- Sep 2008
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- Riddells Creek, Vic.
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- 838
That is absolutely magnificent Bob, I like the simplicity of it's design so much that it is now on my "to do" list also. Does it perform as you expected?
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25th Mar 2018, 10:26 PM #11.
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- Perth WA
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Thanks Peter.
I have seen two versions of the internal tool, one very similar to the external and the other with the lever mounted towards the front.
ae55_1.jpg 2.jpg
I did make a pair of blank toolholders when I had the mill set up to replicate the Boeni mount but they don't really lend themselves to becoming internal retractables due to the absence of material to house the pivot mechanism.
IMG_20180129_124043_01 (Large).jpg
A new clamping block for my existing tool would definitely be the easiest means of making an internal version. The handle is easily repositioned at 30 degree intervals. Worth some further consideration.
Bob.
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25th Mar 2018, 10:59 PM #12.
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- Nov 2008
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- Perth WA
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Thanks Lex.
I had to have the thing virtually completed before I could test it to see if it was a failure or a success. A ring in rotating pivot with a brass pin and Vise Grips for a handle proved that it would work hence the later three attempts at a proper handle.
The final pivot features a turned down 6mm dowel pin and initially it was quite tight in the clamping block's milled 6mm slot. Movement of the hardened pin in the softer 1045 block has created some play when the pin is in the bottom of the slot, the position where the tool is pushed completely forward for cutting. I feared that the play would be its downfall but with the tool clamped rigidly in my 8" bench vice and a 0.01mm dial indicator touching the indexable toolholder, no movement could be detected when the toolholder is fully advanced.
The completed tool works extremely well. The ability to instantly withdraw the cutter up to 5mm from the work surface and to straddle the workpiece beyond the thread if opportunity allows means higher cutting speeds might be possible.
In my mind the results justify the effort. With your ability to harden and grind you'll end up with a masterpiece.
Bob.
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26th Mar 2018, 03:15 PM #13Most Valued Member
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- Jun 2007
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- sydney ( st marys )
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Hello Bob,
just out of curiosity did you cut all the chamfers on the shaper?
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26th Mar 2018, 04:23 PM #14.
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- Perth WA
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Hello Peter,
The Douglas was only used to cut the 1045 to size and to impart a reasonable surface finish. I was fortunate to be generously loaned a 3/4" wide 90 degree milling cutter so that was used to cut the vees and the large chamfer after step milling the vees roughly to shape. I used the optical micrometer to accurately locate the vees 60mm apart. All the minor chamfers were hand filed.
I know people use shapers to cut similar toolpost mounts but the Douglas' lack of micrometer feeds along with the knowledge that mine cuts a slight taper made using the mill an easy choice.
DSC_8683 (Large).jpg DSC_8803 (Large).jpg DSC_8690 (Large).jpg DSC_8808 (Large).jpg
Bob.
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26th Mar 2018, 11:24 PM #15Diamond Member
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- Oct 2008
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- N.W.Tasmania
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- 1,407
I'm a bit late to this thread Bob, but like everyone else, I think that your work is just stunning, as are the photos illustrating it. Very nice Swiss style engineering - jewellery more like it. Thanks for sharing your work with us and I hope that you enjoy the benefits of using it for a long time to come. Cheers and best wishes,
Rob.
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