What Did You Buy Today?

pontiac428 said:
Just a heads up on the Ditron (great unit, BTW), you have to order it with the RPM input (and all axes you plan to use) but can't add it later.
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When a bunch of swarf got tangled in my DRO cables they pulled one of the cables off the reader head and in the process killed one of the ports on the D80. So I bought another D80 on eBay...for $5 more I added the RPM function and they upgraded me to a third axis, no charge.

The RPM function comes with the hall effect sensor and a small assortment of tiny magnets, and now another project on the list is how to install them around the spindle somewhere. The number of magnets used is configurable in the D80. This should be a good feature.

Unfortunately, there are different pinouts for the slimline magnetic scales, that I have, and the "normal" scales, so my new unit won't directly run my scales. I think it's just a matter of more sub D connectors and wiring up a converter module. Slightly worse, it's a RS232 to RS422 conversion also.

So that's a higher priority project. The list grows more than it shrinks, it seems.
 
This thread Removing riveted plates for lathe restoration reminded me that I needed to get a set of pliers to remove the drive screws from some of the projects that I have been working on... so far I have gotten by with cutting a slot and using a flat head screwdriver with a wrench...

drive screw.jpeg

Always forgetting to get the pliers... well... finally ordered an ENGINEER PZ-58 and PZ-57 Screw Removal Pliers.
screw removal pliers m.jpg

screw removal pliers sm.jpg

And I swear that was all I was going to get... somehow these two items were in the cart and ordered without me noticing... I am a sucker for gadgets...

Tool post indicator

Tool Post Indicator.jpg
Parallel separator

Parallel Separator.jpg
 
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wachuko said:
Ordered the Diamond Tool Holder set in 1/2" and an additional table kit... from Eccentric Engineering...

Bought some 1/2 PVC pipe to start practicing with threading... scary stuff :oops: for this guy...
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threading is not scarry. Just practice a few times. make an undercut for a stopping point and it makes it easy. Initially you will find you are reacting in haste to stop the carriage, but after a while it slows down, and you will find you are gentler on disengaging the half nuts..
 
I never did the PVC practise thing, most likely because I figured why waste some perfectly good PVC pipe and never use it when I can sweat making my first threads in steel!

I agree it’s not really that scary, but for a beginner in anything there’s a certain apprehension at doing it for the first time. I think I watched every video from three or four different guys each using their own method for cutting threads before I even went down to the lathe. I would sit there in the living room mentally going through the motions as I watched. Then I’d go to the lathe and just do a few dry passes, sometimes not even under power, just to rehearse the sequence of what I wanted to do. Then one day it was just time — I jumped from the nest, flapped my wings, and by gosh it actually worked!

After that I was like an ant to sugar and still can’t wait for an excuse to cut some threads. You’ll get there too — just run at your own pace, take your time learning a way that works and makes sense for you, and you’ll know when you’re ready to make the jump.

-frank
 
wachuko said:
Ordered the Diamond Tool Holder set in 1/2" and an additional table kit... from Eccentric Engineering...

Bought some 1/2 PVC pipe to start practicing with threading... scary stuff :oops: for this guy...
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I clicked the link for the Diamond Tool Holder set to check out the current price. However, they don't show the price. "Contact us" seems the only way to attempt an order. Was that your experience?
 
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wachuko said:
Let me fix the link… price should show up


View attachment 414619

They have 5/8” if your lathe can support it…
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Thanks. I think the problem is that I declined their cookies, so they don't want to do business with me. Interesting marketing style. :rolleyes:

The tangential tools are a great way to go. Totally easy to sharpen and your steel will last a very long time. Just grind a little radius on the leading edge so you're not cutting micro-threads all the time. I hope you post a review after you get some experience with them.
 
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