cross slide dove tail

[Graz]

Just a quick question is the dove tail on the cross slide ground, i have a friend with an old lathe he has got hold of a cross slide but the dove tail is a different angle wanted to know if i could machine it on the miller.
What do you think.

graham

[Davo J]

I can't see a problem, a new gib will need to be made.

Dave

[Bogstandard]

Graz,

Dovetails are usually machined and come in a variety of angles. It is normal practice to cut them on the mill using a dovetail cutter.

The two most popular are 45 and 60 degrees for slides, but as I said, they can come in other flavours.

As mentioned before, when changing angles, good thought has to be given to the gib strip, and you might find, once the new dovetail is cut by cutting away the old one, the gib strip could end up being too wide for safe use.


Bogs

[Graz]

Thanks for the replies will take a closer look at it and take into account what you have said, I take it once we've worked out what angle it needs to be a cutter of that angle can be purchased.

graham

[Bogstandard]

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Cutting-Tools/Milling-Cutters/Dovetail-Tee-Slot-Cutters


http://rdgtools.co.uk/acatalog/DOVETAIL_CUTTERS.html


http://www.chronos.ltd.uk/acatalog/Dovetail_Cutters_60_Degree.html

[Graz]

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Cutting-Tools/Milling-Cutters/Dovetail-Tee-Slot-Cutters


http://rdgtools.co.uk/acatalog/DOVETAIL_CUTTERS.html


http://www.chronos.ltd.uk/acatalog/Dovetail_Cutters_60_Degree.html

Thanks for those links Bogs  got the cross slide on the bench it is 60 deg, need to do some measuring up as the cross slide is about 1/8" thicker and the dovetail will need to be made narrower