Angle of HSS turning tool to work

Jmanb13

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As I've been reading more and more about grinding HSS turning tools.

One of the most complete ones i've seen is the following.
http://www.steves-workshop.co.uk/tips/toolgrinding/toolgrinding.htm

Specifically this picture.
tool-grinding-angles-large.jpg


I see information around all the different relief and rake angles for different materials, but not the side cut or end cut angles.

Does the side and end cut angle matter and is there a recommended angle?

In regards to all of these angles, do these angles all assume the unground portion of the tool is 90 degrees to the work?
 
side and end angles can be anywhere from 5* to 15* in most cases
the back rake shown in the drawing is for when using lantern type toolpost with a toolholder
a lot of the armstrong type holders have a 7* angle built into the holder, you'll need a bit more end relief in that case
a QCTP won't need the back rake and can be more acute on the end relief.
side relief, do as you please anywhere 5* to 20*.
5* for tough materials, up to 20* for easier to turn materials
 
The side cut and end cut angles in the illustration are more commonly referred to as the side cutting edge angle and end cutting edge angles, just to clarify the terminology in case you need to look it up.

Technically, they do matter. In the tool illustrated above, that is the profile for a roughing tool intended to be used with the shank perpendicular to the work. Note that the end cutting edge angle is less than 90 degrees relative to the side edge and this allows the nose of the tool to access corners so you can use that tool shape to both rough and face. Of course, you will need to alter the tool angle to face with it but the same tool will both turn and face because of that more acute angle.

The side and end cutting edge angles will vary with the purpose of the tool. Roughing tools will have a less acute side cutting edge angle and facing and finishing tools will have a more acute side cutting edge angle. Traditionally shaped tools, as shown below, were used with the shank perpendicular to the work and these different angles were intended to allow the tool to work better for different operations.

Toolbit-Shapes.jpg


When the tool is positioned with the shank perpendicular to the work, the side cutting edge angle is equal to the Lead Angle (LA) and the LA has an impact on cutting forces and finishes. The less acute the LA, the lower the cutting forces are so a roughing tool has a less acute side cutting edge angle. Conversely, a more acute LA will produce a better finish so the finishing tools have a more acute side cutting edge angle.

Of course, most of us use a QCTP nowadays so these shape constraints are not as rigid as they used to be because we can turn the tool to any angle we want. In this case, all we need to assure is that the end cutting edge angle is less than 90 degrees so we can cut shoulders.

Insofar as the relief and rake angles are concerned, that is a much deeper discussion but yes, they do matter ... a lot.
 
I do have a QCTP and that is what really prompted me to ask the question, because I can have the HSS tool approach the work at any angle I want.

I have the southbend how to run a lathe book which lists the tool shapes you mentioned in your post but of course they had a lantern tool post in mind. Do you know of any sites/books/videos that discuss grinding bit shapes specifically for use in a QCTP?
 
Jmanb13, Mikey is the guy when it comes to sharpening HSS, he has a long thread on it here on HM. Might look up his past posts or do a search. Very nice tutorial.
 
To be honest, I haven't seen a really good book on this subject but there are tons of videos on YouTube. Most of the videos discuss tools suitable for use in a QCTP. The thing that sets a more modern design apart from tools intended for a lantern tool post are the back rake angles - they are either smaller or non-existent in tools made for a lantern tool post because the tool post holds the bit at an upward angle already so you don't need to grind the angle into the tool.

Here is a thread I posted on grinding these tools. At the end of the original post are some links that may provide more info you might find useful. http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/how-to-grind-a-hss-turning-tool.52581/

When you use a HSS tool in a QCTP, the angle of the tool can be whatever you want. The questions I think you have are "what angle should you use, when should you use it and why?" I suspect every one of us has asked ourselves these questions at some point so you're not alone. The answers aren't that complicated so I'll try to explain them.

If you use an inserted tip carbide tool then the tool shank is intended to be held perpendicular to the work. All the clearance angles are designed into the tip geometry of the tool and insert and all you need to do is set the tip of the tool to center height, get it perpendicular and you're set. Brazed carbide tools are, in general, used the same way. HSS tools are shaped and have varying geometries so we need to understand things a bit better to get the best use out of the tool.

A HSS turning tool cuts most efficiently when the lead angle of the tool is appropriate for the operation; to really understand this tool angle thing, you have to understand what lead angle is and what it does.

fig161_02.jpg


The lead angle (LA) of a turning tool is determined by the side cutting edge angle of the tool and the way the tool is angled to the work. When the tool shank is perpendicular to the work then the LA is defined by the side cutting edge angle, as in the third example above. We can change this LA by turning our QCTP. So, what is the big deal about LA and why does it matter?

Basically, the LA of the tool alters cutting forces and affects finishes. The lower the LA, the lower the cutting forces are and the rougher the finish is; the greater the LA, the higher the cutting forces are and the better the finish is. This cutting force thing has a lot to do with the amount of surface area that is in contact with the work. When the LA is high, more of the side cutting edge is in contact with the work; when the LA is lower, less cutting edge is in contact. If you use a high LA and then try to take a heavy cut, cutting forces increase and you get chatter; backing off on the depth of cut reduces cutting loads, the chatter goes away and your finish improves. Conversely, using a lower LA brings less surface area into contact so you can take deeper cuts without chattering, albeit with a less refined finish. So, what does this have to do with tool angles and tool shapes?

The angle of the tool in use is determined by the operation. If you are roughing, angle the tool so that the LA is lower (like the middle pic above). If you are finishing, increase the LA (like the pic on the right, above). When the LA is low, you can take a heavier cut; when the LA is high, you have to take a lighter cut. The lower LA is used for roughing and the higher LA is used for finishing. For facing, the LA is negative such that you are cutting with the forward part of the side cutting edge, up near the tip. Facing depths of cut can be light or heavy, depending on your needs, because only a small area is in contact and the potential for chatter is lower.

Tool shapes are not as critical when we use a QCTP but they do have an influence on how much or little you angle your tool. You will find that the LA you end up using for a given operation will put the side cutting edge at an angle very close to what the older shapes did when their shanks were perpendicular to the work.

Bear in mind that we're just talking about tool shapes and lead angles here. Cutting forces are definitely influenced by these things but the relief and rake angles have a much greater impact. That is a discussion for another time.
 
Some great info there! So it seems with a QCTP you could conceivably grind a single tool and simply alter the lead angle do roughing and finishing cuts on the same tool.

I might need to try regrinding some of my bits to see what I can do. The existing ones I have been using were old used bits from ebay that I simply touched up and honed. They have worked well enough, but my surface finish leaves much to be desired.
 
Yes, a general purpose tool shape will work for most tasks - just change the lead angle. However, do not make the mistake of thinking that shape is all there is. Each material you work with has required relief and rake angles and these are far more important than just the shape of the tool.

What kind of lathe are you using? This also has an impact on how the tool is ground. Smaller, less rigid lathes will require larger rake and relief angles to lower cutting forces; larger lathes can get away with more standard angles. You will hear that tool angles are not important and close enough is good enough. The smaller the lathe, the less true this statement is.
 
Yes, a general purpose tool shape will work for most tasks - just change the lead angle. However, do not make the mistake of thinking that shape is all there is. Each material you work with has required relief and rake angles and these are far more important than just the shape of the tool.

What kind of lathe are you using? This also has an impact on how the tool is ground. Smaller, less rigid lathes will require larger rake and relief angles to lower cutting forces; larger lathes can get away with more standard angles. You will hear that tool angles are not important and close enough is good enough. The smaller the lathe, the less true this statement is.

1946 15" Leblond Regal Trainer. 500RPM in top gear, a little more if I overdrive the motor with my VFD.
 
From a watchmaker's lathe, to a Sherline, to a 7" MaxiMat to a 12" lathe, I have always left the top of the cutter un-ground. Perhaps I suffer from some inefficiency, I don't know. I guess it is because the things I cut brass, aluminum, 12L14 and some cast iron. These materials are so easy to turn I have to problem. Perhaps with more difficult steels I would have a problem. Another reason is it is one less face to grind. Another reason to use inserts, even on my Sherline.
 
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