Member postings for Roy Yates

OK, if it is the Adept. Here are a few pointers .

If it has a manual feed, a finer thread would most certainly be better. The Drummond has an 8 tpi feed screw and it is a pain to advance it in sufficiently small increments while being consistent in size of cut. My Alexander has a thread pitch of less than a third of that.

As in my first reply, an auto crossfeed would be a great improvement. I’ve started on the parts for my Drummond, but other things have got in the way over the Christmas period. I will get to use it properly when sorted and be able to compare the machines (OK, the Drummond will win).

One of the gib adjusters on the cutter height adjuster would be better changed for a locking screw - to reduce any movement/backlash in the mechanism wihie operating.

With T-slots, for table height adjustment, it is fiddly to have to set the table level every time it is altered.

They operate better with the cutting edge further back, than in the lathesdotco pics. The proper cutters had a crank in them. Not sure of the proper term for them. Operating with the cutter as short as practicable is good (just look at the tool extension length on some pics!).

Cutters are single point, so far cheaper than end mills for a milling machine. But you do need a means of sharpening the cutter to a razor sharp edge - and to keep it like that.

Apart from being slow, they are a good machine for getting really flat surfaces and useful for other jobs which might be awkward with a milling machine, or it might avoid breaking down a set up on the mill. Definitely good for internal keyways.

Those without a shaper (of any form) will often say they are simply not needed, but those with them usually would not wish to divest themselves of their machine unless almost forced to.

Hope that helps. I like shapers - even hand powered ones.

Edited By not done it yet on 02/01/2018 21:38:42