Using the Ball Turner on Short Workpieces

[75Plus]

There have been times that I wanted to put a ball end on a short workpiece but the turner ran into the chuck. Here is how I solved the problem.

I made a sleeve with an R-8 taper to fit the collets that I have for my mill. Once I had finished the taper I placed a 1/2" collet in the sleeve and a piece of 1/2" material in the collet. I used a rotating center to apply clamping pressure so I could turn the outside to ensure that it was concentric. I can now turn a ball on a workpiece that is little more than twice the diameter of the ball in length.

The material used was a piece of heavy wall pipe, Schedule 80 in the US, approx. 6 inches long. The wall thickness is .133" which was enough for the taper but I had to press a reducer bushing in the other end so I could bore it for the .950" end of the collets. I then made a cap to close the end and provide support for the 7/16" bolt used as the drawbar.

Here is what it looks like.

Using the Ball Turner on Short Workpieces

Using the Ball Turner on Short Workpieces

Using the Ball Turner on Short Workpieces

Joe

[Gerhard Olivier]

That will be handy for a lot of other uses as well

Gerhard

[No1_sonuk]

Nice.
It might be worth getting/making some collets just for this use. 

[Divided he ad]

I'm liking that Joe   


Another 'round tuit list' project added!





Ralph.

[75Plus]

I'm liking that Joe   

Ralph.

Ralph, I have ordered a set of carbide tipped boring bars one of which I intend to use as the cutter. I believe I can stand it vertically so the cutting head will be much smaller than you could make it if you have to clamp the tool bit. I will post my results once I get the project completed.

Joe