Myford ML7 questions

Hi Peter,

You obviously have been given some very sound advice so far, but if you are new to the ML7, I trust that you are aware of the need for correct lubrication, particularly the headstock spindle.

Apologies if I am trying to preach to the converted.

Regards,

Gordon.

Ady - upside-down tools will only fit the holder without adjustment if the difference in level between top of tool shank and tool point is identical. This will not normally be the case.

Four way tool posts - spawn of the devil, avoid. If you need a boring tool (and you will) it becomes a 3-way tool holder - and however you do it, there is always one tool precisely placed to stick in your hand. And the machining you can do with 3 tools is very limited indeed.

Interchangeable holders only needed for industrial/production use? Not really; I'd far rather be machining something than faffing with little bits of packing, did it for a few years and it's tedious.

Parting/boring tool holders essential for a Dickson set up? Well, no, they are not. The best parting tool I have ever used (Q-cut) fits a standard holder, and almost all the boring bars I use have flat bases and therefore again fit in standard holders. I have several of the parting/boring holders, but have trouble thinking of worthwhile uses for them.

David

Can someone confirm what chuck key I need. I have measured the square hole and it looks like its a smidge over 5/16"

Edited By petro1head on 21/03/2012 12:07:28

OK, first post from an absolute novice, so please be gentle with me.

I've recently bought an old ML7, that came with a Dickson type QCTP, and a few 12mm tools, which I soon discovered I could not get to cut on cetre height, they were way above.

I have since bought a 10mm indexable tool, which again is still above centre height. No matter what I do to adjust it, it is still riding about half a mm too high.

Should I be looking at buying even smaller tooling, and if so should I go for 8mm or 6mm.

Or is it that I am just making a stupid beginners mistake

Many thanks

Andy

PS, I am 99% sure that the QCTP came from RDG tools, if that helps!

Andy,

Welcome to the forum.

I have not had any problem putting 10 mm tools in my Dickson holders on my S7. However, it is fair to say that the margin before the toolholder bottoms out is a hair's breadth in some cases.

Some thoughts which may (or may not!) help:

(1) First - and forgive me if this insults your intelligence, but you did say you were a beginner.... I assume from your question that you know how to adjust the tool height by moving the clamping nut on the holders, but have you checked that there is no trace of swarf at the base of the toolpost which stops the holder bedding down as far as it will go? I have had this happen to me before now.

(2) There can be some slight (fractions of a mm) variation in centre height between different examples of the same lathe. Measure yours, and also the height above the cross-slide and top-slide, you will find these are very useful reference figures to have noted down anyway (write them down on or in the instruction book if you have one). I'm not aware that there is any difference in the height over topslide between ML7 and S7, but I supppose it is possible.

(3) There is also a slight variation in the thickness of the bottom part of the Dickson holders I have from various sources, maybe 1/4 - 1/2 mm. Examine yours and see if some of them work.

(4) There is no reason why you should not take half a mm off the bottom of the tool shank; the indexable holders are AFAIK made of reasonably-machinable steel.

David

PS - One final gentle suggestion - it may be better, when you have a new question, to start a new thread rather than append your question to one which petered out 5 months ago. Makes it easier for people to see what you are asking about, for one thing; not everybody reads every thread.

Edited By David Littlewood on 16/08/2012 11:39:48

David,

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I have checked the toolpost and the holder to ensure that they are all clean and free from swarf.

I think I will have a go at machining 1/2 a mm or so from the bottom of the tool shank, as you suggest.

Sorry about resurrecting an old thread, I spend a fair amount of time on the Modelflying.co.uk forum which is run by the same parent company as M.E & M.E.W.. The moderators on there don't appreciate you starting a new thread if there has been a thread about a similar subject

Hi, does anybody know who might supply an unfinished backplate for a Myford lever operated collet chuck? Regards, Malcolm