12 or 16mm tools

I have a model 222 wedge quick change tool post from ARC Here

I currently use 12mm turning tools. The quick change tool holders take up to 16.5mm tools. I need some new tools and was wondering if i am better off buying 16mm instead of 12mm.

I believe the indexable tips are the same size for 12 and 16mm tools

The lathe i use is a Warco WM290

Edited By petro1head on 27/08/2023 12:31:54

Depends on the machine and whether you can or need to take big cuts.

I dedited my post to add the machine i use.

Yes big cuts. Dont do models

I use 12mm tools in my Warco WM290V and I can take cuts which are plenty big enough for me, my opinion is that you don't need 16 mm tools on this type of variable speed lathe, the lathe will stall before you reach the tool limits but that is only my opinion!

Tony

Thanks Tony, i only ask as i need some new tools, bigger is better?

I use a mix of 12mm and 16mm holders. With the 12mm holder I can take cuts that will stall my 3hp gearhead lathe running from a 3-phase supply. The choice of holder is down to availability. Holders for some of the less common inserts are only available from 16mm upwards.

Andrew

First thing is to check that the tool holders go low enough to take a 16mm tool

Second thing is wether the lathe is man enough to take cuts larger than you already can with 12mm.

This is 0.250" eg 1/2" off dia with a 1/4" tool. Only really need more if overhang is greater. Could not cut anywhere near that deep on say a 6" dia part as lathe will stall long before the tool cross section is tested to it's limit

Edited By JasonB on 27/08/2023 13:58:07

Up to a point. They're more rigid, which is good, but can get in the way, which is bad. I have a selection of tools between 12mm and 6mm for a WM280. Most used 10mm with 12mm a close second.

From memory my 280 has about the same motor power as a 290, and it can take deeper cuts with 12mm tools than I'm comfortable with. I like to run it so it sounds as if the motor is working hardish, not being flogged. Although the motor and VFD are both fan-cooled, it's still a hobby lathe.

Dave

The rigidity and mass increase would make for a slight improvement when using the larger tooling.

Crumbs, that's a deep cut.

Cheers for all the input guys

Depth of cut and machine size had absolutely nothing to do with my choice to buy a particular tool in 16mm for my 8 1/2” lathe. I wanted to use economical double sided triangular inserts and the smallest tool holder I could find was 16mm. Due to the size of my machine I had to mill a little off the bottom to accommodate it. It’s used in a four way tool post and was carefully machined to be bang on centre height like the CNC lathe where I used to work.

12mm:
I use 12mm (330 swing lathe 160mmm chuck) most of the time, however the 10mm set I got has better inserts and sometimes on aluminium I use these. I also have 16mm HSS tools which I sometimes use.

I got some tuff doublesided inserts from somebody and made a 12mm toolholder for it as well as modified a less used 12mm toolholder for it. These inserts required a 9 degree modification to cut properly, but they last.

I found the inserts that cost a packet the same as one quality insert, does not last well, and I probably won't buy them again once depleted..

I should have mentioned, the CNC lathe we had at work was quite a small machine, probably half the size of the Harrison M300 long bed and that used 16mm tooling.