Quick Change Toolpost and Holder systems

As an alternative to the standard Norman qctp I made an expanding toolpost so that no clamp bolt is used on the toolholder. This allows two tools to ech toolholder block. More details are here:

**LINK**

Mike

That's a very interesting variation on the theme, Mike.

... especially slitting he column instead of the body.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 31/08/2012 11:02:41

The simplest QCTP is a toolholder on the back, machined to centre height and with the hss tool upside down

Set and forget, just slide the cutting tool in and clamp it down, doesn't matter if it's 1/8" or 1/2"

One shim for carbide tools to lift the tip a tad

I haven't had to set a basic hss tool height for a long time

Hi Len,

Just tried to fix the broken image links but could not due to the time limitation for editing. The problem lies in the file name where I accidently used the Swedish letter a with two dots above instead of just an "a" and this special character is not always well recognized.

Since I cannot edit the post and cannot change the file name I will have to wait until later today/evening so I can upload new images correctly named and re-post the post to fix the whole thing.

Sorry for that.

If admin has the possibility to edit the links as well as the image name it is very OK.

BR

/Peter

OK, so repeating the post from the previous page but now with usable images/links.

===== Repeat ====

Adding Model Engineers Workshop no 140 to the list of info and drawings for a QCTP of the sought after style. Jim W made one for a mini lathe-ish size as well as for a Unimat sized machine. Good descriptions and drawings. I used those as base for my work.

I have understood it so that it is important to be quite accurate when doing the dove tailing to get the desired precision and repeatability while at the same time get the easy fit required for easy use.

For my Unimat clone I made a slimmed down version of the Norman Patent type as can be seen in the following two pictures. They also work very well, and I am very pleased with their perfomance. The only draw-back I think is that the setting screw poking out below makes it a little cumbersome to efficiently store many toolholders.

The holder for ordinary tool bits, and ....

.... the boring tool holder.

===== /Repeat ====

BR

/Peter

Does anyone know a good source of the classic square-headed screws in small sizes ?

... Hex Socket screws are great in many respects, but they do collect little chips of Brass rather too well.

MichaelG.

.

Apologies ... I posted in haste, and repent at leisure!

"WW" originates from Webster Whitcomb, not from Waltham Watch.

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 31/08/2012 20:34:09

Dang! The longer I wait, the less obvious a solution beocmes. Has anyone else had issues with the piston type?

Neil

Neil,

Whilst you are pondering the way forward ... have a look at this little gem of a 3 station milling spindle to fit on the cross-slide of a watchmaker's lathe.

MichaelG.

Hi all,

Take a look @ this! -

youtube.com/watch?v=IPBeoVEGZKY

The youtube video of a retracting lathe tool on a German website, appears to be able to lift up and glide over the work like a shaper tool. My guess is that if Gray Meek`s rapid reverse for the carriage is used with this shaper style toolholder with a threading tool installed, a screw thread could be very rapidly cut. NB, the rapid traverse mechanism incorporates a single dog tooth clutch drive, enabling correct pick-up every time and no stop-starting lathe.

I think the lifting toolholder requires the lathe to run backwards on the return not just feed backwards using the modified leadscrew drive.

Bazle is correct, it will only lift if the spindle is running in reverse.

K (very satisfied user of a Graham Meek device)

MichealG, I like that multi milling spindle, just right for cutting screwdriver slots on custom made screws, or gear teeth.

The video you have requested is not available.

If you have recently uploaded this video, you may need to wait a few minutes for the video to process.

Michael, that watch device is deeply confusing...

I've now started having my own thoughts about holders. I have an idea that should work, and be nice and solid while being tolerant of a small variation in the dovetail width, but i neeed to think more.

Neil

Sorry Neil, it was only meant as an interesting diversion.

.... there is a six-way version illustrated on lathes uk, if that helps.

Looks like it is intended to take a different wheel-cutter, slitting-saw, or whatever; on each of the vertical axis spindles. The drive pulley plugs into the end of whichever spindle is in use ... and would be driven from an "overhead", and idler pulleys to change the direction.

The lathe headstock would effectively just be used as a dividing head [unless there is something really devious going on]

I will see if I can find a picture of one in action, and report back.

MichaelG.

The second picture on this Pultra page should help.

... or perhaps this Levin page.

Both only show single spindles, not a turret ... but you get the idea.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 02/09/2012 21:45:16

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 02/09/2012 22:05:42

Woops! Sorry about incorrect previous posting. Use my original but exchange "V" for U. Have tried this tonite `n` it works OK. The German website is -

www.rb-werkzeuge.de Teil 2 and Teil 3 18/08/2009

Gewindedrehen ohne Ruckzugshalter 14 videos loading need Adobe Flas Player to view

I originally saw this as a link somewhere and like I often do, click on it and bookmark it to read/view later. I then just click on it in favorites(Yahoo) and up it comes with no typing. When I posted about this on 1/9, I wrote Youtube ref on piece of paper then copy typed it in to my posting, misreading "U" as "V"

Missing link from my previous post ...

Moseley Six-Way

MichaelG.

A great collection of articles about the Waltham Watch Factory.

MichaelG.