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Gallery, Projects and General => Gallery => Topic started by: snub on October 02, 2010, 10:45:14 PM

Title: Snub Built A Ball Turner
Post by: snub on October 02, 2010, 10:45:14 PM

My lathe is 5.5 inches fom center to the top of the cross slide so I needed a fairly tall 'stand'. I allready had this 4 jaw chuck that I use as a vice , so I decided to cheat and use this for the stand. Instead of machining a notch for the carbide tool bit, I decided to use the whole thing, bolting it to the bit holder.

(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g62/mithslew/Machine%20Shop/ballturnerconcavecut.jpg)

(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g62/mithslew/Machine%20Shop/ballturnerconvexcut.jpg)


The bearing is from a '57 Ford rear axle. I had a new one on the shelf, that's why I used it.

(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g62/mithslew/Machine%20Shop/ballturnerswivel2.jpg)

The flat head machine screw passes through the rotating tool holder and threads into a cylinder with a shoulder on the bottom. When I get the tool holder to just the right snugness, I lock it in place with a set screw from the bottom.


(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g62/mithslew/Machine%20Shop/ballturnerswivel1.jpg)




(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g62/mithslew/Machine%20Shop/ballturnerbase.jpg)


  (http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g62/mithslew/Machine%20Shop/ballturnerbase2.jpg)

I have to tell you, it works perfectly. No chatter and leaves an almost perfect finish. 

Some of my balls. Aluminum, plastic and clear acrylic:



(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g62/mithslew/Machine%20Shop/ballturneraluminumball.jpg)


(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g62/mithslew/Machine%20Shop/ballturnerpolypropolyneball.jpg)


(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g62/mithslew/Machine%20Shop/clearball.jpg)


And a little 'freestyle', just to  see what I could make.


(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g62/mithslew/Machine%20Shop/ballturnerornament.jpg)

Title: Re: Snub Built A Ball Turner
Post by: Artie on October 02, 2010, 11:18:10 PM

Quote from: snub on October 02, 2010, 10:45:14 PM

I have to tell you, it works perfectly. No chatter and leaves an almost perfect finish. 

Some of my balls. Aluminum, plastic and clear acrylic:

Its amazing what modern medicine can do these days!   Seriously, great job, Im gonna find one of these under my bench one day pretty soon... well done mate.

Title: Re: Snub Built A Ball Turner
Post by: Powder Keg on October 03, 2010, 10:23:14 AM

Looks nice!!!

With all these ball turners showing up, Looks like I better post the one that I made? I can do 6" balls with mine(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/Powderkeg3418/Smilies/headgear65-Copy.gif)

Title: Re: Snub Built A Ball Turner
Post by: AndyB on October 24, 2010, 01:05:20 PM

Hi Snub,

Nice bit of work!

Am I correct in assuming that the toolholder end bears on the outer race while the bottom stub bears against the inner?

There are so many variations on a theme that I haven't completed one of these yet...another project plan waiting on the bench! :bang: Yours looks a cracker though! :clap:

Funnily enough, I got a couple of brand new bearings in a box of bits that are 40mm OD and I have some 40mm MS...

Andy

Title: Re: Snub Built A Ball Turner
Post by: Brass_Machine on October 27, 2010, 10:04:08 AM

Nice work on that!

Eric

Title: Re: Snub Built A Ball Turner
Post by: Stilldrillin on October 27, 2010, 12:41:45 PM

I like the thinking gone into that!  :clap:

David D