need help again

[casca92]

I need some simple views of setting tool height with a ruler you know to HIGH to low JUST right.
I keep forgetting which is which. perhaps if I get some good examples I can get them laminated at magnet them in plain and open view.

I know but every time I learn something new, something old gets lost in the memory for ever.

KISS
thank you
kerry

 

[casca92]

having trouble remembering direction for setting height with a ruler
would anyone have some KISS method drawing =photos
on which way the ruler leans is high or low want to laminate some pictures to magnet to my lathe for quick reference

or even a easier way would be ok. more ideas the better.
I was in the army for awhile so keep it at that grade level.
thanks
Kerry

 

[Grumpy Gator]

If the ruler leans in on the top = High...If In on bottom = Low
When you find center move your carriage out and over to your tail stock scratch a line on the ram...That way you will have a permanent bench mark to use...**G**

 

[Ulma Doctor]

i copied Joe Pieczynski's gauge for height setting
here is his video.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

I guess you mean if the scale is placed against the part and held with the tooling pushed against it, if the top of the rule is pushed away from the operator it the tool height is too high if it is leaning toward the operator it is too low of a setting. Just right will be straight up and down.

 

[kvt]

I like the that Joe Pieczynski does, but have not made one yet, as have no gauge pens etc to use at this point. But
have found that using the ruler method is not real good but will do in a pinch. The reason is that you may not realy be able to see the tilt, and based on the size of the object that your are up aginst will determin the tilt also. Think of it this way, A larger around piece and you can hit a wider area with the rule and will not tilt as much, but with a small item your move just a little and it will tilt easier. I have done that then use a facing cut to verify or adjust to get it better on center. by feeling the little nib, and ajusting until it just removes it. If it is removed, then I lower till it makes one then back up to just removing it. I have also seen a couple of others, One is from Edge, taht is on a bar of known size, you chuck it up then put the the little piece attached to it on the tool and see if the bubble shows it is level. The other is similar, it has a V and a level that sits on the tip of the tool, and you push it up against the work. Then raise and lower the tool until the bubble is level. Do not really trust eather of them as your system has to be perfectly level to the ground that way.

 

[Wreck™Wreck]

I am not a professional Youtube "How To" video producer.
I have worked in machine shops full time for 25+ years so the way I do it is probably wrong. Place a piece of stock in the chuck/collet, choose a tool that will face and run it across and adjust the height until the nub disappears, measure with a ruler from the ways to the tool and write this value on the front of the machine. Use this height to set the tools and it will be more then close enough for general lathe work and is far simpler.

 

[Glenn Brooks]

Kerry, one way to learn it (the ruler trick) is hold the rule up against the work - with the cutter dialed up way high - almost to the top of the work if necessary. Then crank the tool holder in towards the work until it pinches the rule. Watch what happens - the cutter will push the ruler over to almost flat position. After a couple of try's you'll get the hang of it.

Finally - if you want to be dead nuts on center - take a light facing cut. If your tooling is a bit high or,low, you will see a small nub sticking out from the end of the work after your facing cut. Move the tool tip a smidge up or down and take another cut. When you are perfectly in center, the cutter will remove the nub.

Glenn

 

[brino]

Hi Kerry,

As you say the "the more ideas the better"........so here's mine.

Just grab a 6-inch scale and try it with your finger tips.
Grab the "ruler" between the tips of your two "pointer fingers" with a light touch.
Look at the side (thin edge) of the ruler and try it.
With two fingers aligned the ruler will the vertical.
When you drop one slightly the top of the ruler moves to that side.

So use that as the "rule" (no pun intended): "The top of the ruler points towards the low side!"

Once you do it a few times I suspect it'll be second nature to you.

-brino

 

[Asm109]

The Hardinge lathes in our shop had a tool height setting gage. It was a cylinder with a tapped hole in the center top.
Another short cylinder with an eccentric hole was bolted on top.
The tool sat on the top of the cross slide, You adjusted the height of the tool until it just kissed the underside of the eccentric piece.
The height of the gage was made to put the tool on center.