MadModder
Gallery, Projects and General => The Design Shop => Topic started by: 75Plus on October 24, 2009, 05:06:28 PM
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As I stated in my introductory post I wanted to explore the possibility of using my X-2 mill to turn ball knobs. This thread is a report on my findings.
The first thing I did was make a ball turner similar to the ones found on this forum. I then mounted it on a piece of heavy, 1/2", angle iron that I had on hand. What I have now I consider a prototype. It works well with wood, which I intended it for, but is prone to chatter badly with brass or aluminum. Here is what it looks like:
(http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/AlveyJoe/100_2182.jpg)
(http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/AlveyJoe/100_2184.jpg)
I found out after I had completed assembling the turner that some changes had to be made. First there was on room to operate a control lever that was in the conventional location. The control point had to be moved to the base of the main body. Since I was stuck with the short spigot I drilled and tapped the retaining nut and put in a soft pointed, long, grub screw. I was able to slip a piece of brass tube over the grub and it operated the turner smoothly. A bonus feature is that your hand is safely away from the spinning parts.
Now I will try to explain my how I completed the project. I started with a piece of 1 1/4" dowel rod 3 1/2" long in my lathe.
(http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/AlveyJoe/100_2172.jpg)
I turned 2 1/4" of it down to fit in a 3/4" R-8 collet.
(http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/AlveyJoe/100_2173.jpg)
After that was done I went to the mill to see if my idea really worked.
(http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/AlveyJoe/100_2177.jpg)
It DID!!
(http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/AlveyJoe/100_2179.jpg)
I took the blank back to the lathe for sanding and drilling the hole to make it into a knob. I did not make pictures of that operation but this is where it ended up. The contraption it is on is a tool to service the mainsprings in old, and some new, 8 day, wind up clocks. These springs can be difficult to work with without special tools.
(http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/AlveyJoe/100_2170.jpg)
What do you think? I know the entire project could be done on a lathe but then I would not know if it could be done on a mill.
And... did I post enough pictures?
Joe
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Joe,
As far as I am concerned, you have done a great job there.
If you don't want to do it on a lathe, try something else, and you have come up with your own solution that works great.
A very nice post indeed. Informative with a good explanation and piccies.
Bogs
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hi Joe
A nice bit of thinking out of the box, just goes to show what you can do with a little bit of imagination, lovely work :thumbup:
Thanks for showing and sharing
:beer:
Stew
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Joe
Great job with that ball turner. Nice also to see it done on the mill. I like your tool to service the mainsprings. It goes to show that some good tools can be built out of wood and be quite serviceable. The pictures are great. :ddb: :ddb:
cheers :beer:
Don
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Joe.
What a great combination of wood and metal your special tool is. :clap:
Like the idea of the ball turner too.
BR
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Very good job of describing what you wanted and depicting the steps to get there. Way to go. Someone had asked about a spring winder not long ago. Maybe a different kind of spring though.
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Was it just me that couldn't see any pictures ??
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I can't see the pictures either :(
Hmmmmm, the HTML <img> tags ARE present in the source code, but the images aren't showing up for me here.
Mike
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The URLs (photobucket) in IMG tags work OK if I cut and paste.
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tumutbound and ChooChooMike
The pictures are working ok for me now and they were ok several hours ago when I first read the post. Don't know what else to say. :(
Cheers :beer:
Don
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Neat idea and a very nice wood and metal tool (even MRS sayd its gorgeous)
Gerhard
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i like it :clap: :clap:
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Proves there`s more`n one way a skinnin a cat! :thumbup:
Well done Joe! :clap:
David D
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tumutbound and ChooChooMike
The pictures are working ok for me now and they were ok several hours ago when I first read the post. Don't know what else to say. :(
Cheers :beer:
Don
Pictures worked OK with Opera browser but not Firefox
??
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Pictures work fine for me in Firefox in both Vista and Linux ... :thumbup:
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Thanks, guys, for the kind comments.
Another reason I wanted to use the mill for turning wood was the need for speed. The max I can run the lathe is 1550 RPM which is slow for wood. Having my hand near that 6" chuck spinning at that speed causes a bit of concern. I can run the mill at 2500 with no concerns.
Joe
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Nice Work :dremel:
CC