Introduction: Agile-Change Lathe Tool Post and Holder

Hi once again everyone, this time I'll be exhibit you how to make a quick-change tool holder for your metal lathe. I've been wanting one for mine for a few old age, but a good post and a matching set of puppet holders costs a a couple of centred dollars at minimum, and I couldn't justify that rather expense when I already owned sure-enough simply perfectly functional tool holders. Wellspring, I finally got giddy of having to mess more or less with shims, incorrect tool alignment after locking down the tool around holders, and other assorted garbage for 5 minutes every sentence I hot to shift tools, so I decided to see if I could design and machine a do-it-yourself version of a changeful tool holder which would work American Samoa well as the top-quality ones I could buy. I finished up making it mostly out of random bits of scrap I had untruthful around, and ended upfield spending about $15 on a couple of set down screws and a 1/2-13 tap. (I already had one somewhere, only I couldn't find it.) I have been very satisfied with the result so far.

My design is based around a hollow out cylindrical central tool post which is split vertically into 4 sections, allowing it to expand and lock the tool holders in situ aside tightening a nut. Unrivalled advantage of my design terminated time-honored tool holders is that IT has space for 2-3 tools on apiece tool holder block depending on which tools you put in each engine block, compared to one tool per block on traditional dovetailed joyride posts. This allows you to put your most-used tools on the synoptic bearer, thus devising switch betwixt them even faster as all you have to do is revolve the block around the post to prize one.

Allow's start started!

Note: Dimensions therein instructable are for the pieces to sound on my particular lathe, an ancient (but unruffled leaving strong) South Bend model A 9 column inch. You will in all likelihood have to adjust some of the dimensions to make the tool fit your lathe.

Step 1: Required Tooling and Materials

Here are the lists of tools and materials you will need to complete this project.

Materials:

  • (1) 1 1/2" diameter past 3" weeklong round hard steel stock
  • (1 for each tool holder immobilise) 3" past 3" square by 2" high steel or aluminium stock (I misused atomic number 13)
  • (1) 1" diam by 2" long round solid blade stock
  • roughly 4" of 1/2"-13 threaded rod
  • (2) 1/2"-13 hex nuts
  • (10 for each tool holder close u) 3/8"-16 by 3/4" long set screws
  • (1 for for each one tool holder block) 3/8"-16 past 3" long jinx bolt
  • (1 for apiece joyride holder block) 3/8-16 jinx nut or butterfly nut

Tools:

  • milling machine
  • lathe (but you already knew that didn't you)
  • drill pressing
  • isthmus saw (optional)
  • assorted files
  • mill bench vise
  • 3/8" goal mill
  • 3/16" end mill
  • 3 jaw lathe chuck (optional)
  • 4 jaw lathe chuck
  • right hand over turning joyride
  • boring bar
  • live center (optional)
  • center drill
  • drill chuck for lathe tailstock
  • parting tool (optional)
  • emery paper strips
  • 1/2"-13 tap
  • 3/8"-16 tap
  • assorted drill bits ranging from 5/16" to 3/4"
  • various metal shims
  • precision calipers
  • master second power

Pace 2: Part 1: Tool Post

First, we wish be fashioning the tool Charles William Post itself. It consists of the post, the expanding cone, a 4" section of 1/2" rib rod, and a 1/2" nut. Information technology works past tightening the fruitcake along the threaded rod, which forces the expanding cone down into the closing of the tool post, spreading the 4 sections separated and locking your creature holder in situ at the angle of your choice.

Step 3: The Safety Berate

As usual, don't try out this if you don't know anything almost machining Beaver State you'll probably lose your fingers or worse. Machining tools are wild. Don't wear long sleeves or gloves, don't have ties hanging hit your clothing, don't wear jewelry, and tie your hair back off if it's long enough to get caught in the machines. Also don't be stupid, and pay attention while you're working. Don't become an OSHA statistic!

Step 4: Split Stock

Use a bandsaw to cut a 3" section of 1 1/2" steel timeworn for the tool post, and cut a 2" part of 3" by 3" aluminum gunstock for each instrument holder you want to make. As wel cut a 2" section of 1" steel carry for the retinal cone piece, and a 4" duration of 1/2-13 threaded rod. If you don't have a bandsaw, you may substitute a circular saw or mitre joint saw with a negative rake saw blade for the aluminum and a grinder shortcut blade for the brand. If you use a cumuliform saw, spring yourself a bit of extra length (1/4" should Be plenty) on the pieces to compensate for the likely inaccuracy of your cuts.

Step 5: Edit Tool around Post Diameter

Lock your 3" round steel trite in your lathe chuck, making sure to bequeath leastwise 2 3/8" of the length available for clipping. Face slue the exposed conclusion of the workpiece soh that it is bland using the right hand turning tool, then use a focus on drill to make a hole for a viable center to brace the workpiece. Now, turn down the diameter of the workpiece until you have a cylinder that is 0.995" thick (+/- 0.005) and 2.250" long (+/- 0.025). This will equal the cylinder that locks your tool holders into place.

Stone's throw 6: Drill Out Center of Cylinder

Consumption a 27/64" drilling bit mounted in the tailstock to practise out the center of the cylinder. Drill totally the right smart through to the other side. You will need to periodically pull in one's horns the drill bit to help with chip removal. Next, enlarge the golf hole to a 3/4" diameter to a profundity of 2.375".

Measure 7: Reduced 45 Degree Taper

Use a right turning tool with the crisscross slide turned to a 45 arcdegree angle to prune a taper connected the lip of the hole through the cylinder. The tapered surface should constitute about 1/2 of the wall heaviness of the recessed subdivision of the piston chamber (about 1/16"). Use a file to round the cutting edge on the final stage of the cylinder.

Ill-use 8: Baroness Dudevant the Cylinder

Use strips of sandpaper to smooth out any imperfections on the outer rise up of the cylinder, as advantageously as the intrinsic taper. I went busy about 320 gritstone, which was enough to make it rather nice and shiny. You want information technology to be smooth so that your joyride holders can well slide down onto the office, and to increase the number of expanse in contact with the tool holders when they are locked in place.

Pace 9: Measure up Cross Slide Tool Post Mounting Slot

Accurately measure the dimensions of your tool post mounting slot with a precision calliper. Draw the profile and write the dimensions down for later.

Step 10: Cut Mean Height

Flip the workpiece thus that the hollow cylinder is clamped in the chuck and the thick parting is sticking out. Confront downwards the bottom of the workpiece until it is the corresponding height Eastern Samoa your tool bearer's one-armed bandit. Do a finishing cut on the outmost surface of the base, and break some sharp edges with a file in.

Gradation 11: Mill Flats

Clinch the piston chamber in your milling automobile so that the base is facing up. Use an end mill around to cut flats on 2 sides of the cornerstone thus that it is the same width as the bottom voice of your tool post mounting slot.

Step 12: Mill Secondary Flats

Clinch the tool post in the bench vise equally shown, and mill the incidental flats onto the sides of the base so that it is the same width as the top part of the tool berth mounting slot. The tool post should now appropriate snugly into the slot on your lathe cross slide. It is important to have a tight fit on the high section of the slot to prevent the tool post from rotating when you tighten it to lock the tool bearer in put up.

Footprint 13: Cut Elaboration Slots

Use a 3/16" end mill to rationalize down the sides of the tool around Charles William Post, dividing it into 4 equal sections. The slots should live 2.000" overnight, although if you're a bit off it doesn't really make a difference here.

Step 14: Tap Hole

Use a 1/2-13 tap to cut threads into the hole in the base of the tool post, past insert a 4" distance of 1/2" threaded rod.

Step 15: Make Conoid Piece

Now IT's clip to make the piece that will force the 4 sections of the tool post apart. Yield the 2" length of 1" diameter caudex, and cut it knock down to 0.990" (+/- 0.005). Face cut unrivalled close flat, and then drill a 1/2" mess through the midway. Put a 45 academic degree taper on the end. Manipulation a parting tool to cut a 1/2" deep section off the end of the cylinder, and liquid out any alligatored edges with a file. I forgot to take pictures of this step, but if you've made it this far, you should be able to make this component part pretty easily.

Whole tone 16: Partly 2: Tool Blocks

The second role of this picture consists of making tool blocks to hold all of your most-used lathe tools. Each tool block is made proscribed of a 3" by 3" by 2" chunk of aluminum (feel free to exercise brand alternatively, I used aluminum because I already had some lying around). The tool blocks each have a hole in the center which slides onto the tool post, which then expands to lock them in place. All tool block too has a fine superlative accommodation feature.

Step 17: Flatten Block Surfaces

Clinch your tool block in a 4 jaw lathe chuck and facial expressio cut all 6 sides until they are perfectly flat. Make trusty that the tool bearer is even so square when you are finished.

Abuse 18: Tidal bore Center Hole

Nitty-gritty the block in your 4 masticate chuck and drill out the middle with progressively larger practice bits up to 3/4". Then, use a boring block to dilate the center golf hole to on the nose 1.000" (+.005, -.000). It is important to be extremely precise here, as you want a really close suited on your tool around spot, while still being able to slide the instrument stymy off easily.

Step 19: Cut Tool Slots

Economic consumption a 3/8" end mill in your lathe chuck to mill naiant slots on 3 sides of the tool holder. Straight off is the first time you testament follow able to place your tool holder on the tool post. To set up the tool post, slide it into the cross slip , then tighten up 2 nuts against each other on the threaded rod, and tighten the threaded pole to lock the tool post in set out. Remove the barmy, add the expanding cone, and replace one of the nuts. Right away spot your tool holder onto the tool post, but shim IT high 5/16". Use a master square to ordered the tool holder angulate with the lathe chuck, and tighten the nut to lock the tool bearer in place. Swing the slot, then take off the shims and enlarge the slot. Repeat for 2 of the otherwise sides. Leave one side with no slot. The slots should be about 0.600" deep, although if they're a little bit forth it doesn't matter.

Step 20: Secular Out Hole Locations

Use a precision caliper to tally light lines along the uppermost of the tool holder to mark the locations of the holes. You desire there to be 4 equally spaced holes on each of the 3 slotted sides, and the centers of the holes should be 0.300" in from the edges. On the non-slotted side, mark up a hole in the center of the side, 0.500" from the butt against.

Step 21: Exercise Holes

Drill holes at all of your noticeable locations. The holes over the slots should be trained through only the top part of the tool holder, while the hole on the non-slotted side should a-okay the whole way through the block.

Step 22: Tap Holes

Use a 3/8-16 tap to cut threads altogether 11 holes.

Step 23: Insert Set apart Screws and Height Adjuster

Draw a 3/8" hex nut onto your 3" hex bolt, then train of thought the hex bolt into the maw on the not-slotted lateral of your tool holder. This will be the height registration screw. Turn information technology to adjust the height, and lock it in place past tightening the hex screwball against the creature holder block. Thread 10 3/8" set screws, each 3/4" all-night, into the remaining threaded holes.

Step 24: Finished!

Add whatsoever tools into the slots and enjoy your new quick-alteration tool post!

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