New Proxxon lathe question #3

Bob S · 2012-03-04T02:26:32+00:00

This seems a little more complicated. Everything that I read and thepeople that I talk to say that a quick-change toolpost is more of anecessity than a luxury.Choices seem to be:Buy the Proxxon oneBuy the A2ZCNC 60% of AXA oneBuild one, probably of the circular post plus split-bushing typeThe Proxxon version costs about $115 with two holders, plus $21 fromanother holder. It replaces the existing toolpost, which is arectangular chunk of aluminum with a dovetail slide on the bottom anda threaded hole in the side; it doubles as the top slide! It thusretains all of the flexibility and deficiencies of the currentslow-change toolpost, but tools get changed quickly.The primary deficiency seems to be that the tools are fixed at thesame angle as the top slide. One cannot (for example) set the topslide to 29 degrees and then set the tool perpendicular to the work.The A2ZCNC version costs about $100 with four holders. It completelyreplaces the top slide, mounting to the slot in the cross slide.Reports are that it is a quality product. It apparently allows you toset the tool at any angle to the work by loosening the mounting screw,rotating, and re-tightening. However, there is no top slide with thisunit in place. That means no 29-degree threading (which apparentlycannot be done with any other option either). It also means using thecurrent slow-change toolpost for tapers. I don't know of any otherfunction of the top slide, but I am a beginner so I am probablymissing something.Then there is the DIY option. The advantages are probably educationalvalue and low monetary cost (but high time cost). It would probablyconsist of a circular post mounting to the slot in the cross slide,plus holders consisting of rectangular blocks with a hold up themiddle with a slot and a clamping screw. The tools could be set at anyangle, but again there is no top slide.Any other good options? Any advice?Bob

Mar 04, 2012 21 Replies

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xpzzzz 14 years ago

A slightly alternative approach is to get two gears which DO give you the ratio you want and mount them outboard of existing change gears of smaller diameter (turn a two-size mandrel, mount, drill & tap three holes, then bore the new gears large enough to take the axle-fixing screws). You may have to do some playing about to find a combination that fits your existing gears and carrier travel.

It beats looking for that ratio in your particular pitch. For Minilathes in particular, Sherline makes an affordable 127/100 combination.

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Wild_Bill 14 years ago

It's not a good sign when a manufacturer doesn't provide replacement parts. I wouldn't take one person's opinion as the final word, though.

Then again, it may take some creativity to get someone to go against that scary, threatening, carved-in-stone company policy, and make an exception.

Something like a letter to the company CEO, spelling out in graphic detail how your neighbor's dog ate the grear and you've been looking thru steaming hot piles of stool trying to reclaim the gear, to no avail.. but then again, s/he might be a cat lover and feel no sympathy at all.

The RC/model industry is fairly vast in terms of accessories and "upgrade" parts, making a wide variety of small mechanical parts much more commonly available.

Trouble is, generally, RC and various parts suppliers do such a poor job at listing actual parts specs, finding something can result in a fairly complicated research project.

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