JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,988
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Post by JonL on Oct 23, 2020 14:53:05 GMT
I'm considering one of the quick change tool posts from Chronos for my ML7, does anyone have any opinions on this decision and/or the ones sold by Chronos before I part with my pennies please?
Many thanks,
Jon.
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uuu
Elder Statesman
your message here...
Posts: 2,858
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Post by uuu on Oct 23, 2020 16:41:27 GMT
I've got a spare Dickson-style toolpost you can have. It's a British-made one (A&R Precision Ltd), so should be OK. PM me your address. You'll have to buy some holders - on which subject, John the Pump and I have come across some inferior knock-off ones (not Chronos - theirs may be fine). They were not hard on the mating faces and marked up easily. So we've tried to stock up with proper Dickson or A&R ones, or second hand ones that have seen some use and survived.
Wilf
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Post by Cro on Oct 23, 2020 17:19:20 GMT
I’d take Wilf up on that very kind offer and then keep an eye on eBay or similar for some genuine Dixon tool holders. I have a nice selection of them I picked up cheap but on dads one we have Myford genuine and then some Chronos and the Chronos ones really don’t fit very well.
Adam
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Post by 92220 on Oct 24, 2020 8:31:19 GMT
Yes. Adam is right. Take Wilf up on his offer. The cheaper tool holders often don't fit right either. I bought some to go with my Dickson toolpost and the angles of the locations were not quite right and the mating faces were soft.
Bob.
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smallbrother
Elder Statesman
Errors aplenty, progress slow, but progress nonetheless!
Posts: 2,269
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Post by smallbrother on Oct 24, 2020 15:56:47 GMT
Pretty sure mine was from Chronos and has been fine on my ML7.
However, if something better is readily available from Wilf why not give it a go?
Pete.
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jem
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,075
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Post by jem on Oct 24, 2020 16:55:12 GMT
If you have a milling machine, they (the holders) are not very difficult to make, I have made a dozen for mine.
Jem
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,988
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Post by JonL on Oct 24, 2020 20:10:17 GMT
An incredibly kind offer but I can't just take them, let me at least give you some cash to buy yourself some beer or similar. PM incoming. Thank you.
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Post by John Baguley on Oct 24, 2020 21:55:47 GMT
I think my ML7 QCTP came from Chronos many years ago and it's been ok. I have acquired quite a few additional tool holders over the years from various sources and the fits do vary but still seem to work ok.
The worst thing is that they use standard allen head cap screws to secure the tools and the ends get mushroomed over after a lot of use and you then can't remove them if needed without cutting the ends off. I keep meaning to replace them with dog point versions but haven't got around to it yet!
John
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Post by ettingtonliam on Oct 25, 2020 3:34:36 GMT
Seems to me that most problems arise when people mix and match, block from one source, holders from another, so it isn't really surprising when things don't fit as precisely as you'd like.
John. I know what you mean about the Allen cap screws. I try to make them into dog point right from the start, even if its as crude as grinding the dog on. I don't like Allen cap screws on toolposts anyway, they always seem to get the cavity filled with swarf, especially when turning cats iron or brass. I prefer square headed screws, but they are getting harder to find these days.
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smallbrother
Elder Statesman
Errors aplenty, progress slow, but progress nonetheless!
Posts: 2,269
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Post by smallbrother on Oct 25, 2020 14:12:34 GMT
I was thinking about this topic and me and quick are not words that go together often in this hobby.
Not sure the QCTP is that vital in my operations but nice to have I suppose.
Pete.
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Post by ettingtonliam on Oct 25, 2020 18:33:03 GMT
I don't buy into the idea that QCTPs are essential. I had one on my 6" lathe, and was very happy with it, even though it was only an RDG product, but that lathe was rigid enough to cope with the overhang of the tool outside the footprint of the toolpost. For smaller lathes I firmly believe that the cutting forces should go directly down from the tool into the topslide and down into the cross slide with as little overhang as possible. Just my opinion, I know that many others think differently.
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Post by chester on Oct 25, 2020 19:08:32 GMT
Having worked in a production environment where you are checking threads and measuring bores with a four way tool post with tools sticking out at all angles it is a boon to be able to whip the tool out of the way and not end up with cuts and scratches all over your hand and not putting bits of shim and old hacksaw blades to get centre height.They are a godsend.
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Post by simplyloco on Oct 25, 2020 19:52:28 GMT
Having worked in a production environment where you are checking threads and measuring bores with a four way tool post with tools sticking out at all angles it is a boon to be able to whip the tool out of the way and not end up with cuts and scratches all over your hand and not putting bits of shim and old hacksaw blades to get centre height.They are a godsend. Agreed. In addition, when using ANY abrasive cloth I ALWAYS remove the tool! |
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,988
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Post by JonL on Oct 25, 2020 21:05:05 GMT
I have to say it's all.the shimming and mucking around I do to get the centre height that is my motivation here
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Post by coniston on Oct 25, 2020 22:02:50 GMT
I'm considering one of the quick change tool posts from Chronos for my ML7, does anyone have any opinions on this decision and/or the ones sold by Chronos before I part with my pennies please? Many thanks, Jon. Hi Jon, you don't say which QCTP you are looking at but from my experience I can say you'll never look back once you have one. My S7 had a Dickson QCTP with 11 holders and that was still never enough, I kept it when I sold the lathe and use it on my Emco Super 11. The Emco came with one of the Chinese wedge type QCTP like this: www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Machines-Accessories/Lathe-Accessories/Tool-Posts/Model-000-Quick-Change-Tool-Post-Set which I set up on the S7 when I sold it. That one also worked well. pics below of both types on the S7. When I had a ML7 many years ago and money was somewhat thight I bought a very cheap QCTP similar to this: www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Machines-Accessories/Lathes/SIEG-C3-SC2-SC3-Mini-Lathes/C3-SC2-SC3-Accessories/C3-Quick-Change-Tool-Post-Set which although a bit flexible did work ok and was again a big improvement on a 4 way tool post. As others have said the problem is that of flexibility especially with a Myford which are not the most rigid lathes anyway. However with sharp tools and sensible depth of cuts good progress will be made and the benefits of a QCTP far outweigh the drawback of loss of rigidity.   Hope this helps Chris D |
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Post by ettingtonliam on Oct 26, 2020 0:35:10 GMT
Having worked in a production environment where you are checking threads and measuring bores with a four way tool post with tools sticking out at all angles it is a boon to be able to whip the tool out of the way and not end up with cuts and scratches all over your hand and not putting bits of shim and old hacksaw blades to get centre height.They are a godsend. I agree, but you are talking about a production environment, which presumably has decent sized rigid lathes which can happily accomodate a QCTP. My issues are with small lathes where the additional overhang inherent in the use of a QCTP might not be a good idea. It certainly wasn't when I tried one on a generic 7 x 12" Far Eastern machine. I had to revert to a 4 way toolpost because the QCTP made things too flexible. |
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Post by houstonceng on Oct 26, 2020 19:49:32 GMT
I have a genuine Dixon QC post on my 6.5 inch centre height lathe and a number of second hand genuine Dixon holders bought when some of the suppliers of Chinese tools were starting their business selling quality used tooling. Since then, I have bought new holders from three different suppliers. Some fitted OK. Some needed modifying to fit. All were hardened.
Had I been starting with a QC set-up now, I would buy the Aloris type QC wedge toolpost as the holders are much easier to make and the locking mechanism using the lever is easier than the Dixon hex key method. It seems that Banggood versions of these posts and holders have been tested and found OK by a.number of users.
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,988
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Post by JonL on Oct 27, 2020 17:41:39 GMT
My heartfelt thanks to Wilf; the toolpost turned up today and the quality is very evident. I am in the process of sourcing some tool holders.
I have made a small donation to Cancer Research as Wilf refused any compensation for his gift.
The members of this forum really are solid gold, thank you.
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,988
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Post by JonL on Nov 27, 2020 20:55:01 GMT
An update; I don't know how I managed without this for so long. My parting off is improved due to being able to more rapidly and accurately adjust the tool height, and the ease of switching over tools has really made everyday tasks much simpler. I can't say I find the extra bulk of the tool-holder noticeable, and have not noticed any reduction in rigidity.
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,440
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Post by dscott on Nov 28, 2020 2:09:03 GMT
Most of my lathes have them and even the Well one of the Raglans have one.
This is the one size up from the Myford size one.
Going back in time I even made 6 home made ones for my Home made Lathe.
Usefully taking 1/2 to 5/8 tooling which comes in handy some times.
Without them, this is no longer a Hobby!
David and Lily.
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