Machining Round Features

[Pevehouse]

Hello everyone. Like a lot of guys on here, I am new to machining. I have a lathe , mill , band saw and surface grinder. My question is what is the best way to machine round features into a part or on a part in the mill. What’s the best tooling to use, a rotory table, deciding head??? What do you guys use and how does it work for you. Thanks in advance

 

[MyLilMule]

Depends on the feature and order of operations.

 

[dabear3428]

Hello everyone. Like a lot of guys on here, I am new to machining. I have a lathe , mill , band saw and surface grinder. My question is what is the best way to machine round features into a part or on a part in the mill. What’s the best tooling to use, a rotory table, deciding head??? What do you guys use and how does it work for you. Thanks in advance

Deciding head, man I need one of those!
my money would be on the rotary table.

 

[mmcmdl]

Rotary table , Hartford head , 5C indexers and a dividing head if you cut gears .

 

[ttabbal]

Well, it depends... I mean, the lathe is really nice for round features, for example.

On the mill, there are a few options. Rotary table is the most obvious. The dividing head can do the same sorts of things, but can also, well, divide things. To make it even less clear, some rotary tables can have plates added to make them into a dividing head of sorts.

Dividing heads usually come with a lathe chuck to hold things, which can be helpful. You do need more Z space with a dividing head, particularly if you want to tilt it all the way.

You can also use a boring head to cut round features on the mill.

 

[Pevehouse]

Well, it depends... I mean, the lathe is really nice for round features, for example.

On the mill, there are a few options. Rotary table is the most obvious. The dividing head can do the same sorts of things, but can also, well, divide things. To make it even less clear, some rotary tables can have plates added to make them into a dividing head of sorts.

Dividing heads usually come with a lathe chuck to hold things, which can be helpful. You do need more Z space with a dividing head, particularly if you want to tilt it all the way.

You can also use a boring head to cut round features on the mill.

Awesome, so based on the feedback so far, it sounds like maybe my first purchase should be a rotary table. That’s kind of what I was thinking but wanted some feedback from you guys first. I would love to be able to buy all of the mentioned items but we are talking a small fortune for decent stuff. Again, Thanks to everyone who responded

 

[benmychree]

I'd get a rotary table that is big enough to be able to clamp down reasonably large workpieces, that being subjective as to size, not knowing the size and type of mill and what sort of work that you plan to do, it would be difficult to make any recommendation, but personally, I'd not want one any smaller than about 10" diameter (or larger).

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Awesome, so based on the feedback so far, it sounds like maybe my first purchase should be a rotary table. That’s kind of what I was thinking but wanted some feedback from you guys first. I would love to be able to buy all of the mentioned items but we are talking a small fortune for decent stuff. Again, Thanks to everyone who responded

Rotary table would be my go-to if I needed accurate, but that can be a pain for just a simple radius for clearance or appearance.

Your DRO likely has a radius function where you give it the start and finish and it plots out points that will make a sorta curved line. It will be scalloped at say 8 points, but you can usually crank up the point count to make it rounder’ish.

But then you’re back to it being it being a pita.

I guess it should be mentioned this is for an outside radius, otherwise, boring head.

 

[Jim F]

Rotary table would be my go-to if I needed accurate, but that can be a pain for just a simple radius for clearance or appearance.

Your DRO likely has a radius function where you give it the start and finish and it plots out points that will make a sorta curved line. It will be scalloped at say 8 points, but you can usually crank up the point count to make it rounder’ish.

But then you’re back to it being it being a pita.

I guess it should be mentioned this is for an outside radius, otherwise, boring head.

Boring heads work for external features, within their limits.

 

[woodchucker]

Well, it depends... I mean, the lathe is really nice for round features, for example.

On the mill, there are a few options. Rotary table is the most obvious. The dividing head can do the same sorts of things, but can also, well, divide things. To make it even less clear, some rotary tables can have plates added to make them into a dividing head of sorts.

Dividing heads usually come with a lathe chuck to hold things, which can be helpful. You do need more Z space with a dividing head, particularly if you want to tilt it all the way.

You can also use a boring head to cut round features on the mill.

the problem with the dividing head is the chuck screws on , and when held above the dividing head in the vertical position, you can unscrew the chuck while milling, which is why I say most people should get a rotary table unless you are cutting your indexed features at an angle to the shaft. Still then you can angle the rotary table with a homemade jig.

You are not being clear enough for anyone to help.. maybe a drawing... A lathe is the best at creating round features..