Model Boat Mayhem
Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Engineering Techniques and Materials. => Topic started by: spike on April 04, 2016, 04:10:28 pm
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hi just got my new metal lathe and want to know what tools people use high speed steel or carbide thanks
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I have just bought a Chester Conquest Super and bought some 8mm indexable tools from Warco as a starter. They seem to be recommended for beginners as you don't have to get involed with grinding etc.
http://www.warco.co.uk/indexable-lathe-tools/302775-indexable-lathe-tools-piece-set7.html
Still getting to grips with it at the moment.
Colin
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I use mainly Carbide tip tools on my Myford but that is for convenience really.
HSS can be better for some materials and off course you can grind them to special shapes.
I would say carbide tips for general work, facing, turning diameters etc and HSS for special occasions and softer materials.
Craig.
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A mixture depending on material being machined but mostly hss on non ferrous.
I run a Myford Super 7
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mostly aluminium and nylon rod and plastic
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If you are cutting Ali or plastic then HSS is fine.
Dave :-))
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If you have bought what is known as a 'Mini Lathe' then I thoroughly recommend this book which has recently been published and is written specifically for Mini Lathe owners.
http://www.crowood.com/details.asp?isbn=9781785001284&t=The-Mini-Lathe---Crowood-Metalworking-Guides
It explains all the basics and some more complex techniques extremely well.
Colin
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Another good read:-
http://littlemachineshop.com/info/MiniLatheUsersGuide.pdf
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Since getting my mini lathe many years ago I went through all the tipped tools, index bits etc and now exclusively use hss.
The best thing you can do in my view is stick with hss, get a grinder and learn how to grind your own cutting tools.
Ian
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Speed is all important mit zer tipped tools , the chips (cuttings) have to carry the heat away and mini lathes are not fast or rigid enough.
HSS tool steel is a better bet , as has been said, learn to grind your own tools it pays in the long run .
The tool steel itself can be of questionable quality , the best of the lot are the Swedish manufactured ones , Danemora (there's a name from the past) or FAGERSTA WKE4 or (English)SUPER MO-MAX (cobalt if you can afford / find it) the rest ? depends what your going to cut with it . . . I'm not going to "sl@g" off other makes (tried them ALL over 50 years before the lathe) they'll tend to lose the cutting edge very quickly the poor stuff . . . get someone to explain the reason for all the angles required when grinding tools and it'll all become clear to you , be no stopping you then O0
Bill
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The book I mentioned above confirms that using HSS and grinding your own tools is ultimately the best way to do things and explains how to do the grinding process However, if you are a beginner it does add another layer of complexity to the learning process and pre supposes that you will invest in a bench grinder and I don't have room for one of those in my small workshop.
Also, my lathe is something of an indulgence and is likely to be used for model making rather than model engineering so I don't expect to use it intensively up to its full capabilities. I doubt if I will be doing any turning in steel, just brass, aluminium and plastic and maybe a bit of wood too. Having asked advice from knowledgeable friends who understand where I am coming from I decided to start off with the indexable tools and see how things develop.
Colin
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If you machine cast or irregular shaped parts then HSS is best as Carbide can be chipped off by impurities or the irregular impact of the material.