Well, I have almost completed the Peterson/Bedair Ball cutter, with deviations... Still need to make the tool holder, and grind a bit.
It's not pretty! But, I hope, it's functional. It's sitting on my heater, waiting for the locktite to dry. Had a heck of a time getting the center pivot screw set to where the body would turn, but not wobble. I achieved some basic milling on the lath, with one minor foopaw. The cross slide leadscrew nut came loose from the vibration of the milling and the cross slide jumped, causing the mill to zip out of the counter boar for the tool holding screw and marked up body. Most of what I did was an experiment, and not much to tolerance.
I need to go through the lathe and adjust all the gibs again.
Then on to prepare a piece of brass for the first ball! Then again, I have more aluminum bar than brass, so aluminum it will be.
Thanks again for the guidance of the group, and all the suggestions on how to accomplish this job. I'll post pic's if the ball cutter actually works.
Chuck