Pimping the mini-lathe

I appreciate your advice here. Things I also should have done better:
- Don't be a cheapskate and use mystery steel I had, but buy something with a little more material to remove.
- Don't avoid cutting at the start (fix the band saw gearbox.)
- As you said, it would have been better to do smaller sections in the vise rather than the whole thing at once.

Oh well. Given the original ones only have that 3.7mm lower flange, I think mine will be more rigid.
Mark

I am trying to set up a tool table with five tools.

Using this prcedure:
linuxcnc.org/docs/2.4/html/lathe_lathe-user.html

It works fine to turning tools with can touch the outside of test peice, but I also have a facing tool angled such that the tip can't touch off on the OD of the test peice, and a center drill to set. I tryed doing a test cut until the facing tool got to the center of the test piece and then set tool X offset 0, but when I switched back to my already set turning tools, they were no longer returned to the correct diameters.

Any suggestions please?
Mark

After another couple of hours of mucking aound with it, I think my basic error was not having G43 active.

Do I need it active both during the tool table set up phase and while running programs, or off during set up and on running programs?
Mark

I found a different help file which says to set the G43 also when setting the tool table. Starting to make progress on this now.
Mark

I found a different help file which says to set the G43 also when setting the tool table.

Hm, interesting. Could you provide a link to the document?

I this one...
linuxcnc.org/docs/html/lathe/lathe-user.html

4.1 The X axis offset for each tool is normally an offset from the center line of the spindle.

One method is to take your normal turning tool and turn down some stock to a known diameter. Using the Tool Touch Off window enter the measured diameter (or radius if in radius mode) for that tool. Then using some layout fluid or a marker to coat the part bring each tool up till it just touches the dye and set it’s X offset to the diameter of the part used using the tool touch off. Make sure any tools in the corner quadrants have the nose radius set properly in the tool table so the control point is correct. Tool touch off automatically adds a G43 so the current tool is the current offset.

A typical session might be:

Home each axis if not homed.

Set the current tool with Tn M6 G43 where n is the tool number.

Select the X axis in the Manual Control window.

Move the X to a known position or take a test cut and measure the diameter.

Select Touch Off and pick Tool Table then enter the position or the diameter.

Follow the same sequence to correct the Z axis.

E30 is up. The first time I used tool offsets, including a crash due to my lack of understanding combined with carelessnes.


Mark

I just uploaded episode 31...

Mark

Episode 32. This is to fix up a screw up I made.

Mark

A set screw should work just fine on your pulley.

one other thing that works well for protecting the parts in the lathe is to cut some aluminum strips the width of the step on the outer part of you lathe jaw then bend them around the jaw so they hook on the jaw. this holds them in place so it's easy to load your parts. once you make them you can take them off and on when needed if you can remember where you put them