Member postings for GingerLathe

I've got a Murad Antarctica Beta and I couldn't find anything with the same spindle size of 1" 3/8 10TPI Whitworth. Like you I had to make one myself.

It's a 25mm solid copper bar which I'm beginning to regret choosing...

Many thanks for everyone's reply. I'll try everyone's suggestions later today although I feel the hacksaw will be making an appearance...

To be fair, I'm not sure what grade of copper this is so it might be my own doing! Ebay special...

For the first time I have a need to do some work with 25mm copper. I've come to the parting off stage and I can't get my lathe to part off without the typical screaming and chatter you read so much about. The setup I use works will all other materials to a reasonable degree. From what I can google, copper can be a bitch to work with. I'm using a HSS Parting Off Blade 3/32"x1/2"x4.1/2" and even with the parting off point 1cm from the chuck with minimal blade overhang it refuses to part. My lathe cannot accommodate a rear tool post and I don't have a tool bit holder to mount a blade upside down from the front. From what I have read this may be about having the correct tool geometry. I've tried a number of options with my current failure having a 5° front clearance with a 20° back rake.

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Not sure exactly what you are looking for. I've used arceurotrade a number of times with good results. RDG Tools have a wide selection with average quality for the most part,

The willingness to help others never ceases to amaze me on this form. Many thanks Dave. This exactly what I need. Really appreciate your time.

Spencer

Many thanks Dave. I'll have a go at this approach. Would you be able to send me the FreeCAD file if I PM you my email address?

Thanks

Spencer

You video suggest would be the best so I can see how the design is created using FreeCAD. If not, a FreeCAD doc of a tool bit I can look at to see how the surfaces are created.

I had previously read that thread and it get me a little further. I guess I need to plough on!

All,

I'm trying to learn FreeCAD. After getting to grips with the basics, I wanted to create a HSS right hand turning bit. I can't find any good examples to learn from and I'm struggling to create the multi angle surfaces.

Does anyone have an FreeCAD of an HSS tool bit I can learn from?

Many thanks.

Howard - thanks for your comments. There is certainly no replacement for a life's time of experience. Thanks.

Everyone - many thanks for your feedback and help. Very much appreciated. Lots for me to go away and look at.

Thanks again.

would you say the finishing tool provides a superior finish over the roughing tool geometry as the name suggests? Do you know the angles?

These forums and a google will yield results on suggest tool geometry for HSS lathe tools. However I'm trying to determine the validity of a "Roughing" tool vs a "Finishing" tool. The names are self explanatory but can any one offer an opinion on the use of a finishing tool? Will such geometry make a big difference? Does anyone have angles for such geometry?

I've attached an example diagram for reference.

It isn't cutting true although i haven't measured yet but I can see it isn't.

Thanks for all of your thoughts. Much appreciated! Looks like I need to reconsider my approach leveling given the cost and alternative approaches.

All,

I've decided to level my lathe and although there are various methods to achieve this, I'm going to employ the use of an Engineer's level in this process. Now you can pay crazy money depending how accurate you want to go. A google offers up a number of options and I'd like to solicit people's thoughts on them:

1 - Moore and Wright ELS range (165mm - 0.3mm/m) ~£150

2 - Level developments 61R-0.05-140 (140mm - 0.05mm/m) £205

3 - RDG tools brand (150mm - 0.05mm/m) £58

Now what I find strange is the cost of #1 with an accuracy of only 0.3mm/m. Seems a high price for such an accuracy. Then we have the polar opposite for #3 which is very cheap for a reasonable high accuracy.

Does anyone have any thoughts / advice? Do I need something more accurate than #1 for leveling my lathe (Murad Lathe)

Thanks in advance

Thanks everyone for your help. Much appreciated!

Hey Dave,

Link to some pictures.

One as the lathe is now (little cleaning and a replacement tool holder) and some others when I picked it up. At some point the power switch must have broke and was replaced. It also has the badge of the shop in London which originally sold it (Buck & Ryan) which I managed to google some pictures of.

The best place for historical information I've found for any lathe is lathes.co.uk - Link to this lathe on that site: **LINK**

Thanks for the interest!