Author Topic: Using the Ball Turner on Short Workpieces  (Read 8880 times)

Offline 75Plus

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 624
  • Country: us
Using the Ball Turner on Short Workpieces
« on: February 23, 2011, 09:09:51 PM »
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.







Joe

Offline Gerhard Olivier

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 314
Re: Using the Ball Turner on Short Workpieces
« Reply #1 on: February 24, 2011, 04:25:13 AM »
That will be handy for a lot of other uses as well

Gerhard
Guernsey
Channel Islands

Offline No1_sonuk

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 242
Re: Using the Ball Turner on Short Workpieces
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2011, 08:19:14 AM »
Nice.
It might be worth getting/making some collets just for this use.  :thumbup:

Offline Divided he ad

  • WARNING: LIKES SHINEY THINGS
  • The Collective
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1950
  • Country: gb
  • Between Chester, Wrexham, ruthin & Holywell :-)
Re: Using the Ball Turner on Short Workpieces
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2011, 04:26:03 PM »
I'm liking that Joe  :clap: 


Another 'round tuit list' project added!





Ralph.
I know what I know and need to know more!!!

Offline 75Plus

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 624
  • Country: us
Re: Using the Ball Turner on Short Workpieces
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2011, 04:43:06 PM »
I'm liking that Joe  :clap: 

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