Metal Lathe Accessories
The space owns a variety of metal lathe tooling and accessories. Due to ongoing wear, breakages, replacements and additions a complete list cannot be maintained on the wiki, but some notes on the more major items are kept on this page
Note that the hackspace tools are typically enough to perform basic lathe operations reasonably well, but aren't a fully comprehensive set of tooling and we cannot guarantee it will all be functional at all times. Advanced lathe users or those attempting unusual operations should check the availability of tooling before beginning a project. If the space does not have something that is needed then it may be possible to club together and buy it via a pledge, but otherwise the user will be expected to purchase their own
Parting Blade
A new HSS parting blade and holder were obtained in December 2021, to replace the damaged carbide insert holder. Although it's perhaps not as high-performance as the carbide, this style of holder is robust and simple to operate so should suit us well for 90% of operations. Replacement blades are also relatively cheap and easily accessible, so if you break or damage one please buy a replacement (a 'Blue Fox' brand 1/8"x3/4"x6", from https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164061433922?hash=item2632d2d042:g:WT0AAOSwgtdeNwb9). Regular lathe users might want to consider buying their own blade anyway - as well as reducing the wear and tear on the communal part it will ensure you always have one sharp and ready to go when you need it (or at the very least if you don't, you only have yourself to blame)
A couple of things you should note about this particular holder which might be different to others you have seen:
1) it seems to be designed to hold tapered blades with an apex on the top rather than the more common flat top or tee-style blades. For now at least, please only buy blades from the original manufacturer
2) Because this apexed top has to be removed over the cutting depth of the tool, the stickout length of the blade is not adjustable (a shame, as normally it is best to only stick out what you need, but unavoidable in this case)
3) The default grind on the communal tool is
- A flat top (zero-rake)
- A straight 90° cutting edge
Some people like to add top rake, chipbreaking features or angle the cutting edges (to avoid leaving pips) - you are welcome to do these to your own blades but please keep the communal blade as described - this should be the best all-round performer and also keeps it simple enough for everyone to carry out the sharpening
4) As centre height is quite critical for parting, we will (in the coming weeks) get it set quite accurately on centre and then lock the setting screw in its toolholder. Please keep the parting blade in its designated quick release toolholder and don't take it out to use that holder for other tooling