Thread: New owner of AL960 B and HM-46

Hi Max,

For the mill from memory this video gives a fairly in depth explanation on how to do it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfANyiS8Hs4

Instead of the bars some people use the outer ring of a large bearing like this

http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/w...ouse/tram1.jpg

or there are special tools as well like this

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/i...MdrmQgYo3pFnvi

First 2 ways would be the cheapest.

Not sure on your lathe. I have trouble working my own

Cheers

Jayson.

Originally Posted by Maxi77

Hi guys,
I have finally taken the plunge and purchase new a AL-960B and HM-46.
Now the fun begins. I was hoping some more experienced guys could answer a few questions to help me get started. The HM-46 has a dovetail column and can be adjusted 45 degrees each way.
I want to make sure the Mill is cutting perfectly Perpendicular to the bed. What is a good way to set this up? for that matter what is a good way to be sure I have angles set perfectly without trusting the degree plate on the head. It does come with a little electronic digital bevel box but I'm not convinced this is perfectly accurate.

Also I am intending to do some metric thread cutting on the lathe. Is it a complicated process to change gears to allow this. What metric pitchs can be cut with the lathe as it comes from the factory?

Many Thanks Max

hi mate well done two new machines lucky you.
If you search traming. on this forum and have a read
im shore you will be of to a good start. do you have a dti?
aaron

Originally Posted by Maxi77

Hi guys,


Also I am intending to do some metric thread cutting on the lathe. Is it a complicated process to change gears to allow this. What metric pitchs can be cut with the lathe as it comes from the factory?

Many Thanks Max

Hi Max

Re: threading if you are beginning from absolute zero , I suggest the most important thing to remember is to be patient . Don't rush things , a step at a time is best . It can be a slow learning curve , but this is fine because you will learn at your own pace . Mistakes will happen , expect them . Sometimes you will fell like throwing in the towel, but one day, it will seem so easy and you will be a expert . Mike

Originally Posted by azzrock

If you search traming. on this forum and have a read
im shore you will be of to a good start.

Even more results if you search: tramming

Originally Posted by Gunnaduit

Even more results if you search: tramming

funny that as i typed that i thought i bet you spell it wrong. so i goggled it the way
i spell it and it seemed to ok. plus im not a snob about these things.
here is a link to a thread eles where about traming a hm45
http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/...p?f=43&t=89488
have fun
aaaron

The lathe should have come with all the necessary info for thread cutting, on plates on the headstock and/or in the instruction manual <chortle>.

Thanks guys for the info, I have done a lot of watching on youtube. After a few stuff ups. I can say I have successfully cut my first 2 threads a 1.25 and 1.5. I have tried them with nuts and they work. The first one was a bit tight so I had to cut down the diameter a touch and thread some more. Turned down some stainless bar to test them, That stuff is hard on cutting tools i imagine! I did have to change a gear from 40 to 32 which was very straight forward once i realised it meshes with the front gear not the rear I was getting or sorts of weird thread pitches.
I will watch the links when I have some time. I don't have a DTI atm moment but working on a number of tools and jigs for setup for the mill. I only have the basics atm to get me started.
Finding time will be the biggest issue having a 1 year old and keeping the misses happy as well
I wanted to buy second hand but didn't have enough knowledge so figured a safer bet to buy new and learn. certainly will have to do without some other toys for quite a while!
Cheers

Originally Posted by Maxi77

Finding time will be the biggest issue having a 1 year old and keeping the misses happy as well

Hah! If you are ever foolish enough to have a second rug-monkey, you will wonder what you used to do with all your spare time.

I bought a 960b and a hm48 about three yrs back when I moved to the farm. The manual for the lathe is a bit of a shocker!
I'm in the same boat as you Max. I have a 8month old Trade Assistant so I don't get a lot of shed time unless I'm fixing or making something for the farm.

Grizzly has a similar lathe with a manual online. Google their site for the G4002. I found it helpful as I upgraded it from a really nice 100yr old monarch lathe when I left Sydney.

Originally Posted by Ben Dono

Grizzly has a similar lathe with a manual online. Google their site for the G4002. I found it helpful as I upgraded it from a really nice 100yr old monarch lathe when I left Sydney.

If you went from a Monarch to a Hafco, I have to say that it was *not* an upgrade.

My Monarch CY was made in 1942 and in no way would I *ever* swap it for a 960B.....

PDW

fair point PDW. I almost wrote that in!

It was a really beautiful machine. A little old in the tooth and a flat belt. It was the wrong machine to learn on although I was very gentle on it. It was a medium size machine with a lot of quirks that would suit someone that knew what they were doing.
I wanted to keep it as I knew I would have the room when I was on the farm. Their was a lot of time between pack and un pack and it was a heavy bugger. I was happy it went to someone that was planning on restoring it. To be honest, I would have had time to do it in about 30yrs....
I can pick up another oldie down the line when the time is right!

Oh and for the record, the 960 ain't a bad little lathe! It's miles ahead of the Chinese gear (hm48).It's no monarch but it goes just fine! For a farm/hobby tool!

Actually, the 48 is not that bad. You just need to finish it off with better bearings,fittings,wheels etc. i think I will be looking for a knee lift in a few yrs though and keep the 48 as fancy drill press with every bell and whistle!

Hi Ben,
Thanks for the tip on the Grizzly site. Although not exactly the same lathe it is similar and really has some good general set up info. A good reference to read.
I think any machining work is only as good as the operator and if you know your machine and its capability and tolerances then I'm sure some great work can be done. The 960 is a sturdy machine. The mechanical engineer at work has one and it gets used a lot and has never let him down so thats good enough for me

Originally Posted by Ben Dono

Oh and for the record, the 960 ain't a bad little lathe! It's miles ahead of the Chinese gear (hm48).It's no monarch but it goes just fine! For a farm/hobby tool!

I've always regarded the 960 lathe as the best of its type in that size range, myself. I lived near the Parramatta H&F store for a long time and regularly used to drop in, look at what they had and occasionally buy stuff.

My other favourite machine was the Dashin Studturn which was basically a copy of a Colchester and very nicely built.

PDW