Using the Ball Turner on Short Workpieces

[75Plus]

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

[Gerhard Olivier]

That will be handy for a lot of other uses as well

Gerhard

[No1_sonuk]

Nice.
It might be worth getting/making some collets just for this use. 

[Divided he ad]

I'm liking that Joe   


Another 'round tuit list' project added!





Ralph.

[75Plus]

I'm liking that Joe   

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