Thread: Metal to Wood !

I suppose you had a ball making it, once you got around to it

Sorry, now seriously
If the stand had a groove instead of the holes (where the two allen bolts are, this would give an infinite choice of ball sizes only limited to the length of the groove, and mounting plate
Willy
Jarrahland

Finished mine today, except for the paint job, tomorrow's exercise.

Originally Posted by Willy Nelson

...If the stand had a groove instead of the holes (where the two allen bolts are, this would give an infinite choice of ball sizes only limited to the length of the groove, and mounting plate
Willy
Jarrahland

The limit of ball size is normally the height between the top of the bearing housing and the centre of the lathe, the mounting/rotating plate has more capacity (although John chopped his off short). John's like mine has holes at 20mm c/c, but the tool has >30mm movement so we still get a continuous ball size availability, my plate is longer to ensure limit is the height availability. The advantage of 2 bolts, in lieu of a single bolt in a slide slot, is that the tool is always presented at 90 degrees to the ball.

Gentlemen VERY nicely made, when does production start LOL. Seriously though an excellent execution of a difficult problem.
Kryn

Originally Posted by Willy Nelson

I suppose you had a ball making it, once you got around to it

Sorry, now seriously
If the stand had a groove instead of the holes (where the two allen bolts are, this would give an infinite choice of ball sizes only limited to the length of the groove, and mounting plate
Willy
Jarrahland

Willy we had a lathe and drill available , no milling machine ,so in place of a slot we have a series of holes at 20mm c/distance and abour 30mm tool travel so the ball diameter capabilites is in my case from "0" size ball to about "150" mm dia, and anything in between Neils is designed for his woodfast like mine and his larger Jet,so he can have even larger balls hehe ! cheers ~ John

looks like it does the job john should be spot on for doin s&p mill balls, well done!

I've no idea if this guy will post to Aus, but he makes a 100mm & a 150mm ball turning tool, I've seen them in operation and they work extreamly well.

150mm ball turning tool

He also makes a thread forming tool as well - not seen it working though so no comment to make on it.

He makes them himself - not a company and the prices are almost give-away.

That cutter looks like it gives a pretty good finish fellas.

A job well done!!

Looks pretty handy, did you get your inspiration from Vermecs' Sphere Cutting Jig?

Vermec's Tools

Looks fairly similar.

Fred ! yes that Vermec was the inspiration , our model is less sophisticated ,no cam locks hehe. Cheers ~ John

The Vermec version is a well made unit, and unless you have time on your hands with little worth, is actually a cheap way to go let me tell you. There are many hours work in these if you are making them yourself. The biggest problem I had with the Vermec is the amount of room the actual bearing housing takes away from the available radius. The cam lock however is a nice feature.

Originally Posted by dai sensei

The advantage of 2 bolts, in lieu of a single bolt in a slide slot, is that the tool is always presented at 90 degrees to the ball.

Square to the work is not always the best way to go.

If the tool is canted to the left and a small round cutter used, the ball can be cut much further around towards the headstock.

This means a much smaller diameter stub and less work to finish the ball.

In a 60mm ball a stub of about 10mm is achievable.

Cheers

Tim

Good point, I hadn't thought of that. Mine does have a small round cutter

Hi Tim I am probably missing something here, the mechanics of turning a ball dictates that the pivot point is at the centre of the ball and the cutting tool is square to that pivot ,so when pivoted backwards and forwards it arcs across the centre point of the ball. to form the size required . Any tool advancement has to remain in this geometry. If the tool is placed at an angle ,then a different means of advancing the tool needs to be accommodated ,eg the tool remains fixed relative to the centre of the ball, and the tool holder has to advance as a unit , As any adjustment of the tool inwards to reduce diameter would shift the tool away from the centre line ? Keen to see any sketch or pictures of what you are saying as I just don't quite get it . Cheers ~ John

John. The cutter still works on the centre line but because you are only cutting half the ball you can have the cutter advanced a little on the headstock side and go past the centre on the free end. The "swinging" arm still moves in the same arc.

More confused now?