MAKING QC TOOL HOLDERS

A while back I bought off ebay a "Rapid Original" QC tool post for my Boxford ME10 lathe, it came with one tool holder.

I thought it would be a nice project to make some more, I decided to make four more, here is a photographic record of how I did it,

The block as bought,

I had some steel offcuts, 3" x 1 1/2"x 2" in stock, the tool holder I had was, 3" x 1 1/4" x 1 3/4", so I used the Elliott 14 M shaper to reduce the blocks to size.

Then I had to machine the main part of large "T" into the back of the blocks, for this I used a 1" endmill in the TOS FA3A mill

Next I had to machine the "T" of the T slot with a 1"Dia x 1/4" Woodruff cutter, Each side of the "T" was cut in one pass, , 0.145" deep, at 250 RPM and a table feed of 20mm a minute.

Cutting the second side,

Now to cut the "V" slots, to start I cut two slots 0.093" wide into the blocks 0.300" deep, x 2.437" apart centre to centre, this was to give the points of the "V" cutter an easier life, I used a 4" x 0.093" slitting saw in a Tom Senior M1 horizontal mill.

Then I cut the "V" slots on the same machine using a 90 degree horizontal cutter,

After a bit of tidying up, I then machined the large slot for the lathe tool to clamp into, using a 3/4" 3 flute slot drill,

Opening out the slot to 0.850" wide x 0.550" deep

Next I made the height adjusters from 7/8" Dia, steel, with a straight knurl, threaded 8mm,

Here are the 4 adjusters completed,

Here are the four tool holders ,assembled , with 6mm tool holding screws,

And fitted to the Boxford lathe,

This was a nice engineering project, that will make the Boxford lathe a lot more pleasant to use.

I am quite a shaper fan, I think it would be fun to produce one of these tool holders entirely using a shaper, ( not drilling the holes of course ),

Richard.

Edited By RICHARD GREEN 2 on 14/10/2016 20:04:48

Very nice job Richard. Nothing more satisfying making your own tooling.

Gosh I could do with some of your kit, jobs like that are easier on a horizontal mill.

Richard - thanks for posting the photos ... brilliant job. Really.

I've been thinking about having a bash at making them as well, but have not really come up with a method that I was happy with. Your way is great and it's the 90 deg horizontal cutter that's the clever bit for me - I only have vertical mills, so I never thought of that. But I could make an arbor and hold the cutter in the vertical mill and end up with the same result.

So I'd better back to the Fosse Way before it finishes .....

Cheers - Will

Very nice - especially the straight knurl on the adjusters which, for some reason, always looks more professional to me.

I'd like to make some more toolholders myself, but It's not so straightforward with a Multifix..

Planning a production run, Richard?

I could do with a few more...

Hello Old Elan.

No plans for a production run, It was the enjoyment of making my own.

Richard.

Hello Steve, I like the straight knurl as well.

Richard.

I can only agree with that, nice job, i could do with a few more holders myself and this write up certainly inspires confidence to have a go.

Michael W

Thank you all for your comments, I hope this has inspired some of you to have a go,

It's not that difficult, and you have something really practical that you can use at the end of it.

And you can make as many as you like, once you are set up for it.

If anyone makes any I would be interested to see them.

Richard.

It's wonderful to see people making their own holders, the only problem is that like women with shoes, the more holders you have the more you want. I had to cheat recently and bought some holders since I don't have enough beefy equipment to make them. The only real advantage in buying them is that they come hardened and nicely ground although they are not cheap.

Doug

I made my own QCTH and about twenty tool holders for my S7. Saves a lot of time on a job, much better than the fourway tool post I had. Keith.

My home made QCTP conveniently uses 1" square material. Tempted to make some aluminium ones and see if they work.

Neil

Richard,

my Dickson type holders virtually completely done on the shaper in my albums. Nice work by the way.

If I ever get or make enough room I am going to get a shaper. Its been a long long time since I used one. Taking out having to use it for production purposes must like people say make it a lot of fun and quite enjoyable.

Having to wear clogs though to stop chip penetration in your soles is another issue.

RICHARD - Do you machine 'dry' as all the swarf looks dry. If not, what coolant do you use?
BobH

Hello Thaiguzzi,

Thanks for the comment, I've looked at your album and you have some lovely pictures of making your tool holders on the shaper.................Very nice,

Hello Speedy,

I usually machine dry if I can, except for screwcutting, then I use threadcutting oil stuff that I brush on as required,

The two milling machines that I used to make the toolholders both have coolant pumps but neither is connected yet, ( a job for another day ).

I find that using flood coolant only seems to make a mess, and gets in everywhere, also some of the older types of soluble cutting fluid were not that healthy to use, I've got some Rocol stuff now , if I do need any and that has no known hazards,

Richard.

Nice work Richard, & nicely presented.

George.