Thread: Quick Change Toolpost Which Is Better

I have done a bit of net surfing with respect to axa vs bxa for 12X36 lathes (apropros my al960) and have found that (mostly in the US) that users felt that the axa was useful from 10 to 12 inch swing, so presumably the bulk of the bxa would be an issue at 10". Some 9 inch users felt that the axa was a bit bulky!

I chose to order the axa because i was worried that the huge bxa would get in the way of the tailstock and this seems to be a fair concern given the posts from the US for 12 inch lathe users.

On the other hand, we have a trial coming up with my axa and steran50's bxa in the post. If the axa is too small, i'll sell it on.

watch this space!

Originally Posted by kwijibo99

My Hercus 260 has a 10" swing and I'm considering trying one of these types of tool post but as a 10" swing fits into both the AXA and BXA range I was wondering if anyone else had fitted either to a similar sized lathe?
My feeling is that the BXA may be a bit bulky and have too much overhang from the top slide as the current original 4 way tool post is about 2.5" square which is the same as the AXA size?
Any of you blokes got any thoughts on this? All opinions gratefully received.
Cheers,
Greg.

I bought the AXA for my AL-335 and it is a good size for that lathe. It would also suit the Hercus well, as well.( we have Hercus's at work) From the pic posted previously the BXA is significantly bigger (I haven't seem one in person) and would be , as you say, too bulky for the Hercus. Just my opinion......

Sterob

Greg,

I would agree with Sterob re the suitability of the AXA sized tool post for your 260. A couple of months ago I looked at a number of 260's being auctioned. They where all factory fitted with Algra Rapidue quick chance posts. These Algras, without the tool holders attached, were about the size of the standard four way post . I have a Swiss BONI Type 80 holder on my 9'' ARL. It's the smallest holder Boni make and is wider than an AXA but about the same height.

Bob.

Kaloo Kalay my box from the US has arrived!

The dial height guage is pretty cool- dont know how I coped without one.

The AXA with a toolholder fitted is similar in bulk to the AL960 turret and the height looks good. The tool holders suit my 1/2" gear (and the 5/8 boring bars that came in the package). Hare and Forbes reccomended 12mm tooling so most of mine is that sort of size (although clearly 16mm stuff seems to fit the stock 4 way turret).

My AL960 doesn't have a t-slot for the toolpost (despite one being drawn in the exploded view in the manual) and instead a fairly large dia stud is tapped into the topslide to take the 4-way post. The AXA doesnt fit over the stud.

My plan is to make up a bush to fit the topslide, tapped to suit the stud that comes with the qctp. I will then loctite the qctp stud to the bush.

The rationale is that I will have done no irreversible changes (damage!) to the lathe and can revert to the original 4-way by swapping back the studs.

Can anyone suggest an easier or better way?

Russ

You might be able to buy a helicoil insert to fit it, to save making it. Your local mechanic might have one you could buy off him.

Dave

XMAS comes early.

Any pictures of the problem? What are the relevant thread sizes involved?

You could make a new stud for the QCTP that has the correct thread for the cross-slide.

Greg,
I fitted an AXA style to my AL320 a couple of years ago.........had contempleted the BXA as the swing being similar to your lathe, would accomodate either the AXA or BXA....problem I found was that the compound to attach the larger mounting pin isn't that rigid on the AL320 so didn't want to temp fate with the larger tools......that said, another aspect I found with the AXA/BXA style was no indexing or locking button as per the 4 way I replaced.....that comes in handy and I suppose you could retrofit one........though the way I set it up, I can still interchange the AXA with the original 4 way as I prefer to use that for holding the parting tool and use the indexer on it....best of both worlds......was it worth it?....yup - would highly recommend it!.....am currectly fitting an ER40 to my AL320 and would hate to be without the QCTP now.......hope that helps but bear in mind the tool size limitations with the AXA as compared to the BXA.................Lee

Could you simply make a stud with a thread to suit the topslide and a shaft to suit the AXA? That might mean leaving a flange at the top of the thread, which might mean relieving the bottom of the toolpost. Hmm. Maybe not. What if the stud screwed in from below? Is there room for a shoulder underneath? Still use Loctite, but your chances of removing it without damage are better.

Thanks for all the advice fellas,
I finally bit the bullet and have ordered an AXA toolpost made by a company called DTM in the US.
I got the toolpost, standard 1/2" holder, 1/2" boring bar holder, parting tool holder, indexable 7/16" boring bar, tips and couple blades for the parting tool all of which cost a bit less than three times the cost of an import setup including shipping.
Sounds like a lot to pay compared to an import set but by all accounts this tooling is the same quality as Aloris or Dorian, DTM was started by a former Aloris engineer.
I considered an import set but after seeing the carnage reported on this and other forums and having owned a basic import tool post (which cost me over $150 eight years ago) I decided to save up and get one which my grandkids will be using long after I'm dust.
I got the tooling from a bloke in the US who bought up the last of the DTM stock when the owners retired and is now slowly selling it off on ebay. I contacted him and ended up buying from him directly and his pricing is at least 25 - 30% less than I could find anywhere else. He was very helpful and I would highly reccomend him to anyone else who is considering taking this option.
If anyone is interested his name is Michael Deibler (kooltools63 on ebay) and he can be contacted at [email protected]
I will let you know when it arrives and post some pics.
Thanks again for all your advice.
Cheers,
Greg.

I have managed to sneak out to the shed for a brief mo.

I havent fully resolved the sizes of the threads- the original stud is either M16x 2 or 5/8 UNC. The axa stud is M14X1.5 (or 9/16 UNF) based on a quick pass of a caliper and ruler. Infuriatingly I could only find my imp thread pitch guages.

I have enclosed a few photos. The white thing is just an empty box to allow the studs to be more easily seen.

There is access below the topslide (which is quite thick), but no clearance for a shoulder on a stud from below. An allen grub screw from below may facilitate locking the stud (inserted from above).

I suspect that I will make up a stud. Won't have a chance for a while 'tho

Russ

My AXA QCTP from CDCO has a 14x1.5mm stud.

Thanks big shed,

I snuck out again and measured them properly. The big one that comes on the lathe is M16X2, and as you say, the AXA one is M14X1.5.

Russ

Greg, a couple of pictures to explain how the original 4 way is anchored in my AL320......the original stud is press fitted and locked in by a grub screw.....in replacing it with a larger stud, it's doesn't matter what the thread of the new post is - you can use the supplied one or make one to fit...in my case without any T slots on my lathe....I made one to suit and used the same locking system as the original - only larger. Both my 4 way and QCTP are locked on by a threaded nut on top.....to re-use my 4 way after fitting the larger AXA stud, I just reamed out the holder bore to accomodate the larger thread on the AXA tool post stud..........as mentioned in a previous post, you will need a spacer on the 4 way as the holder sits much smaller than the AXA - unless you want to run the thread right down - I chose not to and fabricated a spacer from Delrin............your system may vary so it's just another option to consider....hope it helps......Lee

HI ALL,
I Received My Quick Change Toolpost from the US last Thursday, 9 days from the States I thought that was great Service. The QCTP with its Holders arrived safe and Sound as it was very well Packaged. I even Received a Catalogue from Shars - Gee do they have some Gear.
I am very Happy with the QCTP it is a very Solid unit and well made at that. I am hoping to fit the Unit to my AL-960b this Weekend. I will let You know how I go, got to go back to Work now.