Attent Machinists – INDEXABLE CARBIDE TIPPED TOOLS

[Anonymous]

Good Evening,

This question is directed towards those of you in the know as far as cutting tools for lathes.

I have a small metal lathe at home that I use to do odd jobs and repair things, which helps keep me mentally active plus I actually enjoy makin’ stuff.

I currently have a very old set of carbide tipped cutting tools which have, over time, become blunt and chipped. Being carbide tips, I don’t have the facilty to resharpen them, nor do I have the expertise to know how to sharpen them properly. I have some options as to what I should do, but need some advice.

1)I could try to find replacement tips and re-brazed them onto the tools. This to me is alot of messing around, and initial research shows the tips for my tool holders are not readily available

2)I could look at buying replacement tools, but would need to get a large range to suit various cutting requirements and would eventually blunten anyway.

3)Another option is to use indexable carbide tipped tools. ie tips that have various cutting faces and can be easily replaced/changed

I think I would prefer the third option. My question is, can I get by with acquiring just a couple of tool holders and getting a range of different tips?
I only need to do straight turning (roughing & finishing) and facing. Could one tool holder and different cutting inserts suffice for these tasks? I have a HSS boring bar and parting tool, and these don’t need replacing.

For my mind, using this indexable carbide inserts means I don’t have to worry about sharpening them and trying to figure out cutting angles etc. I simply rotate the tip or bolt on a new one. I have HSS tool steel bits, but that is last century’s technology and a prick of a job to grind the correct angles. (well for me anyway)

Do the tool holders wear out?? Is it something that machine shops would throw out after a time of use? Maybe I could scrounge one off them and just buy some new inserts? Dunno?

Nigel

[ChrisMember]

Hey Slug no idea what your talking about but I do look after a client that does all this stuff I will ask and see what I can find out.

Cheers
Chris.

[Anonymous]

hia slug

you can sharpen your brazed on carbides on a fine silicon carbide grinding wheel.

If you want to go replacement tips. i reckon that ‘w’ shape carbide inserts would be the go for ya. they are reasonably strong, have 6 cutting edges per tip, can cut into square shoulders, face, rough and finish. they are my favourite.

0.4 nose (corner) radius tips are better for non rigid set-ups. 0.8 radius is stronger, easier to get a smooth finish, dissipates heat better, produces stronger internal corners, but more likely to vibrate. You could slow the machine down to reduce vibration, but remember carbides like to be cutting, and at high speeds. If not, they may chip. Use the same tool holder for both radii

tool holders don’t really wear out. they normally suffer crash damage before that. you don’t want a damaged one as they won’t support the tip properly and therefore the tip will break easily. carbides are very hard but not as tough as your high speed steel tools. if your lathe is not very rigid, can’t go fast and you don’t remove a lot of material or hard materials, you may find high speed steel better.

but if you have been good, believe in santa, and enjoy turning, you will love your ‘w’ shape tool.

[Anonymous]

Champo,

Thanks for the info. Definitely food for thought about which direction I should eventually take in sorting out my tool. When you say the W shape has 6 cutting tips, do you mean you get three on each side? i.e you flip over the insert

Chris, no need to talk to you client regarding my post, Champo has supplied the answers I was after.

regards,

Nigel

[Anonymous]

yep. exactly. 3 edges each side

[Anonymous]

I forgot to mention that I have been good, enjoy my turning, but somehow I can’t imagine Santa getting me a W shaped tool

[DeanMember]

slug wrote:

Quote:

I forgot to mention that I have been good, enjoy my turning, but somehow I can’t imagine Santa getting me a W shaped tool

Nigel If I had some I would gladly give some to you, I will have a scrounge at work see what I can come up with. Besides knowing how to sharpen your own High speed tips will make you a better turner:laugh:

ollie

[Anonymous]

Ollie wrote:

Quote:

slug wrote:

Quote:

I forgot to mention that I have been good, enjoy my turning, but somehow I can’t imagine Santa getting me a W shaped tool

Nigel If I had some I would gladly give some to you, I will have a scrounge at work see what I can come up with. Besides knowing how to sharpen your own High speed tips will make you a better turner:laugh:

ollie

Gee Ollie,

You are a top bloke. I am not a good turner, but I try. I know I was pretty good at making cones for all my old schoolmate’s bongs though.:lol:

I am self taught from a 1946 high school text book. One thing that I REALLY hate, is “parting off” and making slots in a job. I have lost count of how many times I have either jammed up the job or snapped a tool. I understand the theory of how to do it, but it just doesn’t seem to work smoothly. I don’t have the confidence to do it anymore, so now I just do everything with a hacksaw and face it off neatly.

FYI, I use 12mm square tools and pack them up to centre. I think the lathe can take a 16mm sq tool maximum.

[Anonymous]

love your new avatar

[Anonymous]

Champo,

Is there any particular text book you use at TAFE that you could recommend? I am not worried about CNC stuff, just plain old lathe skills and how to calculate suitable rpm, for material diameter. My lathe can’t easily change the feedscrew speed without messing around with manually changing over gear cogs, so I don’t need info on that.

[DeanMember]

champo35 wrote:

Quote:

love your new avatar

Nigel I totally disagree with champo your new Avatar sucks!! Give us back the asian bird with the best boobsB) ………..Pleeeeeeessseee!!

ollie

[Anonymous]

OK Ollie, you scratch my back and I will cater to your kinky fetish about large bouncy asian breasts

[ChrisMember]

slug wrote:

Quote:

Champo,

Chris, no need to talk to you client regarding my post, Champo has supplied the answers I was after.

regards,

Nigel

No Worries Nigel, champo the legend saves the day again, because I wouldn;t of even known what to ask, I would have had to get them to read your post..

Chris.

[DeanMember]

slug wrote:

Quote:

OK Ollie, you scratch my back and I will cater to your kinky fetish about large bouncy asian breasts

Thankyou:P

ollie

[Anonymous]

Ollie, By the way, there is a Malaysian woman who is currently reading the SBS world news at 9.30pm. Her name is Neena Mairata. Believe me when I say she has something you would probably like. She isn’t looking all that hot tonight, but sometimes she really shines…..in tight satin tops!!!!!

[Author]

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