PM-1660TL

[erikmannie]

Here I did a chamfer & knurl. I noticed as I was knurling that I pushed the knurling tool into the work and rotated the QCTP. I took this picture after I straightened out the QCTP.

 

[erikmannie]

I made a less aggressive cut wherein the toolpost stayed square to the chuck. It turned out much nicer.

 

[erikmannie]

I made a few more passes on the knurling toward the chuck, some grooves and a parting operation. The big lathe made the parting very easy.

 

[Aukai]

I use a dial indicator on a Noga stand to check the knurl tool, and also on the parting blade in, and out to try and be as square as possible to the work.

 

[erikmannie]

I use a dial indicator on a Noga stand to check the knurl tool, and also on the parting blade in, and out to try and be as square as possible to the work.

I imagine that you run the side of the tool holder (using the cross slide handwheel) across the dial indicator & then you rotate the toolpost until you get no variations?

I used a 1-2-3 block against the square face of the chuck, but I like your idea better!

 

[Aukai]

Yes your right, I was hit, and miss on the 1 2 3 blocks working well

 

[erikmannie]

Yes your right, I was hit, and miss on the 1 2 3 blocks working well

I believe it. That is one of the operations where a third arm would come in handy.

I never assume that a tool (e.g. a parting blade or tool shank) is square in the tool holder. It also may not be square relative to the toolpost.

When I can, I like to square up the cutting tool itself. Your idea would work very nicely for this.

 

[Larry$]

I made a less aggressive cut wherein the toolpost stayed square to the chuck. It turned out much nicer.

View attachment 341843

If you do much knurling, consider the clamp type. A good project to make on your new mill. New toys sure are fun!

 

[erikmannie]

There was a bit of a coup here for me today because my whiny neighbor has been watching me set up this machine, & I know that he was anxiously anticipating calling in yet another noise complaint when I started using the machine.

HOWEVER, both the RPC and lathe are so quiet that nobody would ever be able to complain about the noise. I know him well enough to know that he laments this lost opportunity to be able to call the police on a neighbor.

 

[erikmannie]

I also have the clamp/scissor type which I have so far reserved for tubing & pipe. However, I will now try them on round stock!