- Joined
- Nov 16, 2012
- Messages
- 5,596
So, here's how I'll make a gear. Haven't made too many and usually try to purchase them but, what the heck...
The gear is for a lathe attachment and needs to be driven off the rack gear under the ways. First I'll grind a HSS bit to fit the profile of the tooth. Trial and error at the grinder... It finally looks like it's fitting.
Next is to make a test piece. I measured 10 teeth on the rack gear and it appears to be spacing of 0.250". Seems odd because this is an Asian lathe and I was expecting a metric number. Anyhow, the test piece is a flat piece of metal and the quill was dropped 1/4" and a couple teeth were cut. The feed is slow and you need to push a little in the X direction then run the Y direction to form the tooth.
...And here's a check. Close but I'll grind the bit a little more and get it to match perfectly. BTW: the very first tooth I cut has a sharp tooth because it's not a full tooth. It's the second tooth on the test piece that I'm paying attention to as it's the first fully formed tooth.
OK... We'll do more later this evening maybe... We should start calling this "Saturday with Ray"... I need a break and the dog needs a walk.
Ray
The gear is for a lathe attachment and needs to be driven off the rack gear under the ways. First I'll grind a HSS bit to fit the profile of the tooth. Trial and error at the grinder... It finally looks like it's fitting.
Next is to make a test piece. I measured 10 teeth on the rack gear and it appears to be spacing of 0.250". Seems odd because this is an Asian lathe and I was expecting a metric number. Anyhow, the test piece is a flat piece of metal and the quill was dropped 1/4" and a couple teeth were cut. The feed is slow and you need to push a little in the X direction then run the Y direction to form the tooth.
...And here's a check. Close but I'll grind the bit a little more and get it to match perfectly. BTW: the very first tooth I cut has a sharp tooth because it's not a full tooth. It's the second tooth on the test piece that I'm paying attention to as it's the first fully formed tooth.
OK... We'll do more later this evening maybe... We should start calling this "Saturday with Ray"... I need a break and the dog needs a walk.
Ray
