Newbie needs help machining pulley grooves.

Buickgsman

Buickgsman

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I am trying to help a friend machine a pulley for a tractor restoration he is doing and we need to machine 2 pulley grooves into a 2.5" steel pulley. I just bored it and made a keyway using a boring bar and 3/16 cutter by locking the spindle in back gear and cutting the keyway using the carriage back and forth. It worked well but seemed a little harsh on the boring bar but we got the job done. Any advice on the bast way to approach the pulley grooves in this chuck of steel? I was thinking about using a cutoff tool bit to hog out the depth and then just set the compound to the correct angle and cut the outer angles. Sound reasonable? The loose part below is the part we are trying to copy. The metal chucked up in the lathe is the project.

Thanks!

2013-03-17_17-56-28_712.jpg
 
Pretty much the best way to do it. Rough out both, then do the same side of both, then the other side. Less fiddling with the compound that way.
 
Buickgsman said:
I am trying to help a friend machine a pulley for a tractor restoration he is doing and we need to machine 2 pulley grooves into a 2.5" steel pulley. I just bored it and made a keyway using a boring bar and 3/16 cutter by locking the spindle in back gear and cutting the keyway using the carriage back and forth. It worked well but seemed a little harsh on the boring bar but we got the job done. Any advice on the bast way to approach the pulley grooves in this chuck of steel? I was thinking about using a cutoff tool bit to hog out the depth and then just set the compound to the correct angle and cut the outer angles. Sound reasonable? The loose part below is the part we are trying to copy. The metal chucked up in the lathe is the project.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I would make sure the parting tool is not extended out to far. Also make sure the parting tool cutting edge is ground straight across. I miss-type earlier,
 
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As a seasoned machinist, Tony and Bill gave good advice. You may want to use a live center in the end for additional support.

Jeff
 
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