Gallery, Projects and General > Neat Stuff
Mini surface grinder
bogstandard:
Hi Fred,
I hope my ramblings about the cutter sharpener straightened it out for you.
I actually use a combination of tilting/swivelling vice, a mini precision ground vice and a set of ground angle blocks.
I tend to spend a couple of hours doing them in batches rather than just a single one, and also tend to grind the same tip on either end of the toolsteel piece, it is just a matter of flipping it over after each operation.
I only do it because I haven't got too much grip in my right hand now for long grinding sessions on the offhand grinder.
Normally, I would go out and take a load of pics to show how I do it, and make up a post. But I am just preparing for a large project, so when the back is broken on that, I will make up a bit of a post to show you how.
John
28ten:
That certainly is a nifty little project, it would make tool grinding a lot more accurate, for someone as unskilled as me.
when I started work at TWR Jaguar back in the 80's there was an old boy who would grind up all sorts of tools freehand, unfortunately he retired before i could get him to show me :(
John Hill:
Bogs, I understand what you are saying John however I assume a shaper mounted grinding spindle would allow one to grind hard materials that the regular shaper process could never handle and to get a finish at least as good as the shaper would (on softer material)?
I have some bits of tool steel (HSS I presume) that are just a tad too big for the shaper's tool holder and this would seem to be an ideal job for such a machine.
bogstandard:
John,
If that is all you want to achieve, then that should do it.
My worry was that if you thought maybe you could achieve the same sort of precision as a surface grinder.
Cy,
Grinding lathe tooling by hand is rather easy. With a little practice, anyone can do it.
The main problem is the fear of not getting the angles just right.
Forget about that, they are only guidelines, just like a lot of other stuff that is spouted about. If you are near enough, and the geometry is basically there, and it is sharp and on centre, the tool will cut just fine.
As I have said, I only go for machine grinding because I don't have the flexibility and strength in my hand any more. I tend to drop lots of things.
Just have a look at all the garbage and piffle that is spouting on this ongoing post about it. How to become an expert toolgrinder overnight.
http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/index.php?topic=5569.0
By the time he has sharpened anything on that monstrosity, I could have done 20 freehand (if I didn't drop them), and they would most probably cut a lot better as well.
It is all down to getting your hands dirty and playing about. You soon pick up what is right or wrong. As for making form or profile tools, IMHO you can't beat a Dremel (or clone) with a thick fibre cutting disc and a set of radius gauges.
I know it sounds a little patronising, saying it is easy, but in all honesty, it is. Once you get the angles and the reasons for them being there sorted in your head, it just comes automatically. You will see how the cut is going on the lathe, think it is not quite right, lift the tool, a couple of seconds regrind, and you will be away again, with a perfect cut.
A lot of it is just plain common sense.
Bogs
sbwhart:
--- Quote from: bogstandard on August 01, 2009, 06:15:16 PM ---
Cy,
Grinding lathe tooling by hand is rather easy. With a little practice, anyone can do it.
The main problem is the fear of not getting the angles just right.
Forget about that, they are only guidelines, just like a lot of other stuff that is spouted about. If you are near enough, and the geometry is basically there, and it is sharp and on centre, the tool will cut just fine.
I know it sounds a little patronising, saying it is easy, but in all honesty, it is. Once you get the angles and the reasons for them being there sorted in your head, it just comes automatically. You will see how the cut is going on the lathe, think it is not quite right, lift the tool, a couple of seconds regrind, and you will be away again, with a perfect cut.
A lot of it is just plain common sense.
Bogs
--- End quote ---
Johns spot on with this, I grind all my lathe tools free hand its how we were taught as apprentices as long as you follow the basic geometry you can't go far wrong, the angles don't have to be exact to get a good cutting tool.
Stew
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