Better Finish OD

Kroll

Active User
H-M Supporter Gold Member
Guys first off I only have maybe 10-20hrs at the lathe which that includes all day yesterday then today plus other times.In one of my previous post I ask about tailstock alignment,but haven't got around to ordering from Edge.Ok I have to make myself a shaft that has 5 different OD's and I have what I need in material except it has an OD of 1" and the OD of the shaft is 3/4 so there little material to play with so I though I would make this shaft and while turning the OD from end to end I would put a mic on it then adjust the tailstock.Well not knowing the lathe to well I just jump in and it took me just about all day maybe taking .010-.020 per pass.Well if this is doable I now have my tailstock within .001 so for me I think that is good,do you?Now I got the OD to size but the finish is not that good but while taking passes I adjusted the rpm's with the feed rate which I was at .0025 up to .008 using an insert.Do I need to try a faster feed rate?When it comes to Speeds/Feeds I'm clueless here which is why I'm posting.Using the inserts it seems that maybe .020 or more per pass I got a better finish but trying to snick up on the finish OD oh the swarfs were not chips long stringy.Then I remember someone saying use inserts to get you close then switch to HSS,which is what I did for 2 reason.1)for the better finish and 2) my live center is to big to get my insert close so I had to grind HSS.Which this is a first so ran in house and watch some Youtubes come out and gave it a try,which looking at the one shaft that I made the finish is better but not much more.Guys the lathe that I am using has lot more feed rate and goes up to 1200(never been there)only up to 750rpms for this shaft.I'm sure the HSS tooling could be better but it does seem to cut.First pick is the shaft that I made,but after all said done its .497 which needs to be .500 The shaft in the first pic the OD is to small but I had made it out of another shaft that was 3'long w.OD of 1" so I just repurpose it so really don't know what material it is.In the second pic where you see the relief cuts that is 1144 if this helps any.The one pic of the shaft that's still in chuck I wanted to show the finish but did not focus but you can see the cutter.Confusing I know,I never though that just turning an OD would be this hard to get a good finish.Thanks for any suggestion,I be looking on ebay for Machinist Handbook I put if off far to long.Forgotshaft.jpgLathe1.jpgLathe3.jpg
 
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