QCTP for Warco WM240 Lathe

I've recently purchased a Warco WM240 lathe. Has anybody fitted a quick change tool posts to one of these machines?
Warco do one thats specific to this lathe which includes a knurling tool and drill chuck, I have these tools so don't wish to duplicate them.

Hi

I fitted a Dixon 0 style tool post, bought from RDG as a Myford fit, to a Chester DB7, similar but smaller to your machine, fairly easily. On the top slide on the DB7 there is a boss which locates the indexing tool post supplied. Initially I made a square plate that was the same size as the new tool post, with a hole bored to match the boss on the top slide and just thicker so that the boss was clear of the new tool post base. This was fine when using 8mm tools but not so with 12mm ones.

To overcome this I bored out the base of the Dixon tool post to accommodate the boss on the top slide. Mounted it in the 4 jaw chuck and used an indexed carbide boring bar. It bored out fairly easily to size with no traumas.

Cheers

Martin

Hi Stewart

I have fitted a QCTP to my WM250 V-F, there needs to be some modification to the compound slide to allow fitting. Considering your machine still has a 12 mo. warranty I wouldn't go down this route just yet, Warco consider any removal of screws / smallest modification etc.. during the first year tantamount to voiding warranty. I would get the specific QCTP that Warco offers & then you can have an extra chuck & knurling tool.

I have 3 chucks in all for my lathe, a 0 - 8 mm & 1 - 16 mm keyless plus the original supplied 1 - 13 chuck plus a couple of keyed chucks around the man cave for my mill & drilling machines, plus a couple of smaller ones taken off old hand / portable drills ( Hmm these will come in handy for something... ) I also have 3 knurling tools, 2 clamp types & one 2 wheel push style... you can never have enough gear in your cave, so for the moment I suggest you get the Warco QCTP if you can afford to.. they will probably say that it will have to be machined to suit your machine (at extra cost! ) as I asked the same question last year when I bought mine, other members may offer a different opinion so you can formulate your own decision. I have a couple of pics in my albums for you to look at if you wish. Drop me a pm if I can help with anything.Happy machining.

Regards

George

Hi George & Stewart

Using the method I have described there are no modifications made to the lathe itself. The only change I made was that using a spacer the stud on the top slide was lengthened but as this is easily reversible it is not going to affect the warranty. Boring out the bottom of the QCTP requires no changes to be made to the lathe and is an easy task in the 4 jaw chuck. But I agree that any significant changes may well affect the warranty and should be avoided.

Cheers

Martin

PS

Pictures in photo album.

Edited By Martin W on 05/02/2014 12:51:43

Edited By Martin W on 05/02/2014 12:52:28

As soon as you see a knurling tool includied in the set be suspicious it is one of the really crap filed out of ox dung and painted black rubbish cheapo sets even if marked up to match better ones. Adding a drill chuck is a new low in tempting the unwary as never in a month of Sundays do you need a drill chuck on the tool post.

Given that you really really really don't need a QCTP i suggest saving up for the better style ( ie not painted black) that cost 50% more but are worth twice as much. Not exactly sure of your lathe size but probably you want the size offered for a Myford or Boxford rather than thinking it has to be as specified for your particular lathe.

Bazyle

Couldn't agree more with your observation about cheap QCTPs etc. I fell for itt some time ago and bought a cheapish black metal QCTP set. While it wasn't a complete waste it certainly did not live up to my expectations and I fairly quickly moved on and bought a Dixon 0 style QCTP and holders from RDG. These have most surfaces ground and left as bright finish, are easy to adjust, maintain their setting after repeated changes and have much more mass. The latter certainly helps get a better finish and reduces tool vibrations/chatter. If you're interested I have included some pictures in my album.

Usual disclaimers in vested interests in the mentioned supplier.

Cheers

Martin

Edited By Martin W on 05/02/2014 15:22:15

Interesting comments on QCTPs and their quality!

I keep wondering about one for my Engineers Tool Room BL12 -24 (Warco BH600/Chester Craftsman lookalike).

But having managed with three tools in the Front 4 way, and another three in my home made 4 way Back Toolpost, for ten years, maybe the need is not really that great, and a spend circa £250 is a bit off putting.

(I made a tool height setting gauge to speed/ease setting Front and rear mounted tools to centreline)

Also, my shop being compact/congested (take your choice) where would I store the spare holders?

The shelf above/behind the lathe already carries Drill Chucks, Running Centre, Faceplate, Catch Plate Steadies, and Collet Chucks, so no room there. And don't even think about the storage spaces beneath - already fully used!

So votes For, and who Against please.

Howard

For,

I have just purchased the QCTP for my Warco GH1224 from Warco as the others didn't match the post that it fit's to

Very pleased with it and the ease of setting the tool height is very easy

cheers

The Warco toolpost seems to be on permanent backorder, so I looked for an alternative. The closest I could get was the HBM 51mm QCTP from RDG, which was a bit of a gamble as I didn't have any detailed specs for it.

As it turns out, it only needs one small mod, the bore in the base is the right diameter to fit the cross slide stud but isn't deep enough. It needs to be deepened by about 3-4mm. The stud is also a bit short and might benefit from being longer but it seems to hold well enough. The 4-wayrotation lock pin will need to be removed as it's redundant - plus the removal of the screw that holds this in stops it fouling the chuck on close facing operations.