metal lathe live center.

[hanau]

i have the smaller HF metal lathe.
i was out playing with it today and realized that my live center is a little large.



anyone have any recommendation on a live center that wont hit the tooling?

I was laying with speed and different cutting depths today.

 

[hewunch]

Grizzly.com

I have this one.

 

[randyrls]

i have the smaller HF metal lathe.
i was out playing with it today and realized that my live center is a little large.

John; You can get live centers that are intended for CNC machines. They have a standard 60° angle for the start of the center and then "flatten out" to allow cutters to get closer to the end of a piece of stock.
Grizzly.com
or this
Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Measuring Tools, Cutting Tools and Shop Supplies

 

[rherrell]

First thing...get rid of that carbide and grind your own HSS tool bits or get the HSS insert set from R.A.Warner....
Turning Tools, 3/8" Indexable TPMW HSS Inserts - LittleMachineShop.com=


I have this set but you can get them individually at LMS.

You shouldn't be "pushing" metal around like you see in the photo. HSS has another benefit of giving you a much smoother surface.

The little lathes just aren't made to handle carbide tool bits....IMO!:biggrin:

In the meantime, try turning your tool holder, that will get you closer.

 

[cwolfs69]

i have the same lathe and a very similar center. i solved the problem by actually maching the center to look like one of the very expensive CNC centers. just chuck on the large part in your three jaw with the shank inside the lathe and turn down to your desired size. do not recut the point as you may not be running true enough for that. works great and still able to use an inexpensive center. here is a link to a quick picture that i took when i saw this thread. PM me if needed for more info. Slimmed down live center

 

[ironman123]

Charley, how did you do that? My centers are hardened steel.

Ray

 

[Paul in OKC]

Grind off the metal behind the carbide, and you can actually remove a bit of carbide with a regular coarse wheel on the bench grinder. Wouldn't do it often. Those carbide tools will work well if you know how to grind them. You need a 'green' wheel. Right out of the box they pretty much suck. HSS is usually the best for these and they give you something to learn tool grinds with.

 

[cwolfs69]

Mine was hardened as well, but tnat means 59-62 Rockwell C scale. A good C-6 czrbide will cut it nicely.

 

[Paul in OKC]

Mine was hardened as well, but tnat means 59-62 Rockwell C scale. A good C-6 czrbide will cut it nicely.

Indeed, with very light cuts. Good idea, as it won't take a whole lot to clear.

 

[hanau]

Thanks all for the suggestions,

cwolfs69 do you have a suggestion on where to get C-6 carbide tooling at?
looks like the inserts cost more than the above linked live centers.

i will also look into grinding some HSS into tooling.

 

[cwolfs69]

actually what i used was the cheap carbide from harbor freight. go to ebay and look. if you have any carbide tooling i would try it. they don't always say C-6 even though they will work. High Speed Steel wont cut it. HSS and the center will be about the same hardness so that wont work.

 

[Paul in OKC]

If that little tool you have pictured came in a set, use the left handed one (the one that would turn towards the tail stock), and use the set up just like you have pictured. Jam the center into the part, and feed by hand. Put a line on the center where you need the clearance to be, and work slowly.

 

[cwolfs69]

If that little tool you have pictured came in a set, use the left handed one (the one that would turn towards the tail stock), and use the set up just like you have pictured. Jam the center into the part, and feed by hand. Put a line on the center where you need the clearance to be, and work slowly.

absolutely right. just use left hand tool and cut right there. little cuts, keep center tight and go slowly. then you can polish with emery cloth if you wish to make it look pretty.