Quick change tool post

I would've thought that it's a given that using a QCTP is a nice thing to have. So if you can't buy one, why not make one?

Michael W

Any guides on how to make them? I very much like to make my own rather than buy them...

Sorry for the hijack!

A QCTP is the best value piece of lathe tooling I've bought. My last job was to turn a 14mm spigot, thread half of it M14, and part off leaving 5mm of the original 30mm bar on the unthreaded end. With the turning and facing, runout groove, threading, chamfering and parting off that's five tool changes for just one simple part. I made four of them. Having the tools ready to drop in place is part of working efficiently. I'll save my patience for the occasions when I can't work smarter.

I use a Dickson clone on my WM250, that was also on the mini-lathe I had first. I currently have 13 tool-holders, and I buy a couple more each time I order other stuff from any of the suppliers who stock them.

Hi Chris,

You can find a description of the tangential toolholder I made for my small lathe here.

From Mike's workshop, and Gadgetbuilder's version. A build log at MEM.

Thor

I have a dickson clone tool post and found it fiddly to use . I came across the quick change tool post by Pratt Burnerd and designed my own from this.It is easy to make as no dovetails are needed its only drawback is that the tools have to be packed initialy but once done thats it. I have found it far quicker than my other QCTP and it has no overhang so less chance of chatter.If interested in making one look in my album.

Frank

Just written a longish diatribe here, then lost it all by looking something up, so I'll paraphrase what I wrote:

I've had a four-way, a Dickson clone and a wedge type. I found the last to be far better suited to my needs than either of the other two. In the end you a) get what you pay for and b) you find what suits you best, yourself.

I've also bought a tangential tool holder and can't get on with it! That's most likely down to my incompetence and lack of perseverance with it, however, not the tool itself, as others have good results with them.

John

Or perhaps you aren't lazy but work for a living, have family commitments and also have more than one hobby and value time spent machining parts/crawling under cars/working on motorcycles/designing and making parts not related to toys etc. more than time setting up tools? :D

Tangential (intentional spelling ) tool holders are great roughing tools but the access limitations imposed by the holders render them of limited use in many situations.

Tangenital Tooling will be cheaper if you have nothing but free time, that makes it better if you're Skint, Tight, have Nowt Better to do or all of the above, that's not me however.

- Nick

As are magical claims about tool holders in which the author has too much time invested to be able to attain a reasoned viewpiont

- Nick

My !!!!!! what a can of worms I have opened up, my phone has been dinging all day whilst I have been picking my new (well it is older than me and I'm 60) Myford ML7, so I am going to have a play and see what I actually do or don't need.

Thanks for all the reply's

Martin

The Dickson toolpost is a quality item. There was one on the 13" lathe I bought. I replaced it with an Aloris wedge type toolpost for only one reason: cost and availability of additional tool holders. Do a cost comparison before you buy.

I'm in complete agreement with this. I made a standard L-shaped packing piece out of 1/2" square material with a 1/4" base and a 1/4" high by 1/8" thick sidewall, and I've standardised on 1/4" square HSS tools. Tool changing takes seconds and I rarely have to use any thin shim packing - if I do it's 'cos I've been careless grinding. I use a cheap 150mm. bench grinder I bought 15 years ago from B&Q, and it's completely adequate.

Good luck to those who use QC tool holders, but TBH I think they actually save very little time.

Good plan Martin. I think a QTCP is one of those accessories you only need after personal experience has told you that it's time to buy one. I'm not quite there yet and it's possible I never will.

Thanks Thor, much appreciated.

Hi Martin,

Sorry for going off topic somewhat, but you may need one of these before anything else **LINK**

Good luck with your new (old ) lathe, I am sure you will have many hours of enjoyment, frustration and satisfaction.

Ian

Many Thanks Ian,

I got it home ok yesterday and even got the wife to help me lift it on to the bench, told you she was a tough old bird LOL,everything seems to be working ok and will have a proper play today first off it will be a quick nip up to RDG for a chuck, cutting oil and a few things like a DTI as you suggested then I can turn big lumps of metal to small lumps of metal.

Nice to meet you yesterday

ATB

Martin

On the question of whether or not the tool holder should be pushed or pulled against the tool post for rigidity I quote from the Bergstrom Quick set tool post sales literature;

"Tri-lateral design. The large contact surfaces ensure positive clamping without vibration and chatter."

Sales literature here; http://www.lathes.co.uk/bergstrom/

Rigidity in any machining operation is fundamental to success, I would urge anyone buying a QCTP to consider this.

John

Well that's another new one on me, <edit> just realised the dovetails pull the holder back against the flat surfaces either side - that is clever.

It must be very expensive because unless the tabs on the dovetails are a perfect fit in the slots they will twist. I judge that a piston version is better for home make as it doesn't matter if the piston twists.

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 02/10/2017 08:33:38

The Bergstrom sprung parting tool holder works like a swan neck tool.

A curious irony of a sprung tool attached to a remarkably rigid toolpost.

Clearly both rigidity OR spring that causes the tool to move out of the cut can work.

Neil

From memory I believe the whole "dovetail" in the tool post moves in and out to lock and release the holder so some very accurate work was required to ensure repeatable setting. Yes, they were (are?) expensive, again if memory serves, half as much again as a Dickson.

A large local, to me, engineering company had Bergstrom QCTPs on there very hard worked NC lathes, the tool posts where replaced with Dickson products because of wear in the Bergstrom posts.

John