AXA or BXA Tool Post

[davidpbest]

Greetings, I have a Precision Matthews 1236T lathe and am looking for the best QCTP for that machine. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

I run a Dorian BXA tool post on my PM-1340GT and am very happy with it. Should fit your 1236 just fine. The Dorian is certainly a long term investment, but the repeatability of tool position is outstanding. So if you're thinking of using the tool offset library function on the DRO, repeatability is an important factor. DM me if you have questions on this.

 

[Just for fun]

I have the BXA setup from Precision Matthews on my 1236T and it seems to be pretty nice. Take that with a grain of salt though as I am new to machining and don't have anything to compare it to. But I can recognize high quality products and for the money I am happy with what I have.

 

[Baja_Dude]

Thank you both, this has been very helpful!

 

[StevSmar]

I wish I’d known about Multifix tool holders before I purchased my (knock off) BXA. Not having to swivel the holder body around seems like it would be very helpful.

 

[Baja_Dude]

StevSmar, do you have a link to that site?

 

[Baja_Dude]

BXA

Best depends on your budget.

You are correct on the budget point, but the old adage of 'buy once, cry once' will apply here since the tool post affects almost every aspect of the lathe.

 

[StevSmar]

StevSmar, do you have a link to that site?

Here’s a video on Abom79 fitting a multifix to his lathe:

I did find an actual Swiss made one (apparently) from here:
https://www.penntoolco.com/swiss-multiquick-40-position-quick-change-tool-holder-for-all-lathes/

 

[Baja_Dude]

Here’s a video on Abom79 fitting a multifix to his lathe:

I did find an actual Swiss made one (apparently) from here:
https://www.penntoolco.com/swiss-multiquick-40-position-quick-change-tool-holder-for-all-lathes/

Thanks StevSmar, very informative!

 

[StevSmar]

Thanks StevSmar, very informative!

Of course the Swiss made ones are a bit out of my price range.

Here’s a Chinese one:
http://www.createtool.com/list.asp?cid=33

And a German made one that Stephan G is using:https://www.top-maschinen.de/maschi...zeuge/multifix-schnellwechselstahlhalter.html
Which he talks about to the end of this video:

I also found this link on the Model Engineers forum where different vendors are discussed:
https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=168996&p=2

(As you can tell, if I had my time again I’d probably go the Multifix route, though I need to stick with my BXA since there are other things I’d like such as a rotary table etc. etc. etc.)

 

[Christianstark]

Old thread, new question.

Has anyone else had an issue with getting a boring bar high enough with a BXA on a PM1340GT?

I had to bore some 5/8 holes, and all I have is a 1/2 drill, and then a 3/4. I have a 3/8 boring bar, but when I put that in a 200 series holder, I am still not on center after raising the holder as high as it will go. For my boring bar holder, I have to raise it all the way to the top to get my bar to the correct height, and that only takes 1/2 and 3/4 bars. Is this just because I am on the edge of a size change?

I know I could shim the 3/8 bar, but I’d rather not. Maybe take 1/4 off the top?

Second, I really have to crank the holder down to make it so it does not want to turn with heavier cuts like parting steel or knurling. Any pointers on making the base more secure on the cross slide?