Hello all,
Have just got a 2nd hand Warco BH600, gap bed and wonder what tool
size to use in conjunction with T1 QC tool holders.
HSS or tipped?
Have only used HSS and brazed carbide tipped in the past, but that was
20+ years ago, so no doubt things have moved on since then.
I will, however, be buying one of the Greenwood parting tools. From
what I've read, this, and equivalent, is/are the Holy Grail for
parting off.
As the replaceable tipped tools are not cheap, I will need to be sure
of the size before stumping up the cash.
Workshop still not finished, but oh so nearly done.
Why oh why do things take 4 times longer than you estimate?
Old age or what?
Regards
GeoffH
(The Pirate)
Norfolk - UK not VA
Geoff
Hi, glad to see that you have got back into the fold. I'm not sure of
the specification of the T1 range of tool holders but with the standard
BH600 tool holder or my Chinese 200 series 1/2" or 12 mm is the largest
you can use and get on centre height. For a comparison with your T1 the
sizes of the 200 series are here
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Basically the bottom of the tool slot to the bottom of the tool holder
on mine is 1/2" so if yours is thinner then you might get a slightly
bigger tool in. A friend who has a BH600 had to remove 4mm off the
bottom of his 16mm tools to allow him to get them on centre height so
12mm seems to be it. Annoying for me as I have a lot of older =BD" HSS
tools that curve up to the cutting edge and I can't use them unless I
use a Myford type clamp directly on the top of the topslide, still
didn't pay much [Bg] for them. I use 3/8" and =BD" HSS regularly
and prefer it for a good finish and where I need a particular shape.
I have found myself more and more using replaceable tipped tools. I
have a variety of types ranging from the cheap to the b****y expensive
and have learnt that price does not always equate to performance. I
have 12mm sets from Glanze which are fine and another unmarked cheap
set which is awful and was consigned to the bottom drawer very quickly.
I have a couple of Greenwood left/right hand tools and again they are
fine but expensive. I also have some 12mm Tizit maxilocks and they are
excellent. I don't use brazed carbide tools at all these days,
although I know some people are successful with them they have never
worked for me.
To be honest my current favourite RH tools that live in the toolposts
of my lathes are 12mm tools bought from Mary Poppinsbag (John
Stevenson's Gert) and they are superb. They have reasonably priced
tips, a proper sized screw to hold them in place and work extremely
well. Superb value for money as well.
formatting link
When it comes to the parting tool I bought mine from Jenny at JB
Cutting Tools and it is superb. Same concept as the Greenwood Q-cut
(which is also superb) but the insert is held in a separate blade which
can be moved in the holder to give a little more range. Very similar to
the one Mark shows here
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There are a few tip types I tend to use the type with a centre groove
which curls the swarf to stop it jamming in the slot.
Hope you enjoy your BH600, mine certainly works well for me.
Best regards
Keith
Get some 3/16 and 1/4 inch size HSS tools. Dead easy to resharpen and
grind to meet your needs, and incredibly forgiving for a guy learning to
run a lathe. You can stack up a couple bits or use spacers to bring them
up to fill the space in the tool holders.
Leave the brazed insert tooling at the store, they are mostly shite
anyway, easy to chip and a PITA to sharpen properly.
Insert tooling, you mostly get what you pay for. stick to name brand
toolholders and standard rather than proprietary shapes of tips.
A look through the catalog of a decent tool supplier will show that
there are a pile of different shapes and materials for inserts. For
general turning, I really like useing a 80 deg diamond shaped tip of
about 3/8 (10mm) I.C. size, or a triangular tip of similar size.
With a bit of care you can make your own tool holders that are quite
better than the cheap variety sold for hobby use.
formatting link
The above link is one of many out there.
The metalwebnews site has much good stuff, too.:-)
Cheers
Trevor Jones
I don't have a BH600, but I like the Sandvik Coromant DCMT inserts (55
deg diamond shape) , they work very well on my speed-limited ML7 and
give a nice finish as well as decent metal removal.
The grade I use are DCMT 070202 MF 1025, which have a 0.2mm nose
radius and are supposedly just for finishing cuts in stainless, but
seem to work very well in all materials. The holders are just a cheap
10mm Warco boxed set that the wife bought me last year.
Peter
Must be something to do with great minds Peter, although my bigger
lathes are equipped as mentioned above my S7 lives with 10mm tools from
warco in the small Dixon. I really can't fault their 7 piece set
particularly as it is only =A345. While I like the DCMT as you mention
particularly for access, I do a lot of turning with the CCMT Coromat
and it works very well. I find it slightly more durable than the DCMT.
I also like the uncoated Widia Valenite CCMT 060204 which cuts well.
These produce a poor finish when new but improve when the insert has
done a bit of work. They do seem slightly more prone to chipping than
the Coromat though. I also use one of the Glanze SCBCR tools which lets
me use the otherwise unused 75% edges, I find these good for heavy work
and even intermitant cuts, not very versatile though.
I can't claim any great knowledge of inserts and I have to give Jenny
at JB Cutting Tools credit for getting me this far. Every time I've
asked for advice she has come up trumps with an excellent insert. No
connection, just a happy customer.
While I have too many inserts in stock at the moment to change, I have
to say that "our Gerts" TPUN tools also work very well on the Myford
although not in the Dixon as they are too big. I will have to think
hard when it comes time to buy another supply of inserts though.
Best regards
Keith
I've had some success with CCMW060202 inserts. These are like the CCMT, but
with no chip breaker. I have used the for cast iron. in boring bars and on the
shaper. They are a little bit less fragile than the CCMTs.
When I get the surface grinder commissioned, one of my first projects is going
to be to turn a lump of square HSS into CCMx inserts. Then I'll really be
cooking with charcoal :-)
Mark Rand
RTFM
On or around Sat, 28 Oct 2006 18:14:08 GMT, Trevor Jones
enlightened us thusly:
sounds quite like the one I have. CCMT09, I think it is, on a 12mm square
shank holder. Mind, on the Student, it has to sit on almost 12mm of spacers
to get it the right height.
I've got a boring bar with a brazed-on tip, so far I've managed to avoid
chipping it. I've also got a green-grit wheel on the grinder.
On or around Sun, 29 Oct 2006 00:53:56 +0100, Mark Rand
enlightened us thusly:
yeah, I've noticed you can chip CCMT09 that I use rather easily.
don't see why you shouldn't flog 'em if they work and people want to buy...
I've not seen HSS inserts, that I can recall, and for some use, they might
be better.
Oh Mark don't you think the world has enough of those already? I always
think the economy should revolve round Mars Bars and Beer
tokens.......... What else could a man want!!
Best regards
Keith (just a poor man)
Thanks for all the replies.
Will let you know what I decide to use.
Don't hold you breath though, as finishing workshop is still a couple
of months away.
But . . the lathe is now on its stand!
Progress.
Cheers
GeoffH
(The Pirate)
Norfolk - UK not VA
Hi
Been reading this thread with interest but I still don't have the fina
answer for myself. I bought a BH600 recently as well from Warco and
ordered their 12mm 9 piece turning set with it. (This one although no
exactly the same as in the photo:
formatting link
Not having lots of experience I am having trouble with these. I'm no
sure they are the best design (angles seem to me to be the opposite o
what the text book lathe tool angle info would tell you). I'm also no
really sure, (because of the angles etc) about which one is used fo
which purpose.
Also I'm not convinced about the method these tools use for holding th
inserts on - a screw from the back of the insert with a cam which lock
the insert onto the holder. The method of a countersunk screw seem
more secure to me??
(As an aside - if I do decide to persevere with these does anyone knw
if other inserts will fit them or do the inserts have to be bought for
Warco only)
So I guess my big question is - if i was to start again and buy a se
of 12mm insert tooling for this lathe - what set would peopl
recommend?
I'd also appreciate where (on-line preferably) I could buy these.
Thanks in advanc
--
gn3d
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gn3dr's Profile:
Hello gn3dr,
Looks like an interesting set. Should be at the price.
Still not as expensive as some sets I've seen advertised.
I've never used this type of tool either, but from what I have deduced
, the correct angles are molded into the tip itself viz the groove
along the cutting edge provides the correct angle.
Don't think you can compare with hss tool grinding angles shown in
most ME books.
Can't comment about the method of securing, but it will be interesting
to hear from other members of the group.
I would also be interested to hear comments about these last two
points.
The lathe in as last mounted on its stand, and the whole lot on a 4"
high base giving me the perfect working height.
I can now start the final organization of the workshop i.e. shelving
and electrics. Got may local DIY store to match some Warco green so
that I can give may other machines a new coat of paint. It's only
standard oil based paint, so let's hope it stands up the cutting
fluid.
Another post about to be done asking advise on cutting fluid.
Regards
GeoffH
(The Pirate)
Norfolk - UK not VA
Hi, gn3dr, that is certainly an unusual set and not one I have any
practical experience of as I chose to stick with the more common insert
design. They are not unique to Warco though as Chronos do a very
similar set. The problem I thought about when looking at them was that
the design of the chip breaker grooves mean that the angle each tool
can be presented to the work is fairly specific and the edge of the tip
is vulnerable to damage. I think that the more common insert types that
are used on our smaller machines (including the BH600) are more
flexible and will be more robust and result in less tool changes. The
type of tips I'm thinking of would be CCMT, DCMT, TCMT and TPUN,
although there are more tip types than you can shake a stick at. I
wouldn't worry too much about having a bit of trouble with them to
start with most people find that they need to experiment a bit to find
what type of tools suit them best. Look in most workshops and you will
find a variety of tools that have been tried and then consigned to the
drawer with most work being done with a few favourite tools. A lot of
people have trouble initially with tipped tooling because they don't
realise how delicate the tips actually are and try to use tips with
chipped edges. They also tend to run them too slowly and with too fine
a cut. These tips work properly if they are worked hard.
There is nothing wrong with the clamp type holder although it tends to
be a bit more bulky and the insert pockets need to be accurately
machined. In fact, they used to be common as they allowed the insert to
be formed without a hole which were claimed to be stronger and cheaper
particularly for intermitant cuts. Modern insert manufacture has moved
on though and I note that the inserts shown on your picture all have
holes anyway?? The biggest problem with the countersunk screw design is
that in our smaller tools they rely on good quality screws, something
many of the cheapest sets do not have. In poor quality tooling where
the pocket is not accurately machined the screw can allow the tip to
rotate.
Chronos also sell these tips at =A312ish for the seven tips, that is
very cheap really as the tips I've mentioned above will typically be
about =A320 or so for 10 or =A33 each if you buy smaller quantities. For
better advice re the tips available I would give Jenny a ring at JB
Cutting Tools, if you tell her the set you have she will be able to
advise (and supply) on what tips are available:
J=2EB. Cutting Tools
The Cottages
Hundall
Sheffield
S18 4BP
Tel: 01246 418110
Fax: 01246 411011
e=2Email: snipped-for-privacy@cwcom.net
My experience is that buying sets is not necessarily the best way to
go, I've bought several and to be honest many of the tools now reside
in the box they came in. I have tended to buy individual tools from the
recognised suppliers as I have progressed and identified a need for
them. The most used tools that I have are the SCLCR (right hand turning
and facing) type which live in the toolposts most of the time. I have
these with CCMT, DCMT and TPUN tips that I use for various
applications. I have the left hand version for CCMT and DCMT. I also
have the SCBCR type (because I'm a cheapskate) which allows me to use
the otherwise unused corners of the insert, not very flexible but good
for heavy metal removal. Just by changing the angle of the toolpost
slightly when using the SCLCR/SCLCL tools you can cover turning,
facing, chamfering etc and you will find that you don't need a lot of
specialised tools to do 75% of the tasks.
In looking at what you already have, I see no problem with the inside
and outside thread cutting tools other than the inside one may be a bit
bulky so why would you want to replicate those. The corner chamfering
tool also looks OK for the few times you will probably use it. I
personally wouldn't use the parting off tools included in any of the
sets I know of, that doesn't mean they won't work just that I have had
a lot of success with the Q-cut type tool.
You have obviously found Warco but there are plenty of suppliers on
line that will sell you inserts and holders, have a look at:
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They are not in any order except how they are located in my favourites,
I have bought from them all at times and the service has been fine.
I'm not sure if this is any use as it only reflects my own personal
experience and that is limited, it might however ruffle a few feathers
and stimulate a bit more discussion for you.
Best regards
Keith
Thanks Keith -very comprehensive reply as usual. The SCLCR/L holder
with the CCMT inserts definitely look a bit more what I think in m
mind is a better design.
I have bought from RDG before and find them very good. Chronos
haven't used and they seem OK too. Nice stuff on the Greenwood and J
sites but the prices are really out there compared to RDG & Chronos!
I think I will copy you and try a SCLCR holder with CCMT tips. The RD
ones look OK? The SCBCR for using the unused corners is also a goo
idea which I might shamelessly copy too.
Would be interested in others opinions too.
Thanks
Ge
--
gn3d
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gn3dr's Profile:
Ger I agree, come on guys give the guy the benefit of your experience
some of you must do things differently.
Ger, no diatribe this time just a couple of small points. As I said I
have lots of these including an RDG one and it works fine. I forgot to
mention that you need to take care with the small screws on these CCMT
holders. I try to buy a spare or two with the holder. They fill up with
swarf and if you try removing them without cleaning them out it's easy
to round the socket off, don't ask how I know. I now keep a needle
handy to clean out the socket before I remove them and make sure I have
a good fitting key.
I do also use a fair amount of 3/8" mainly HSS which is only a couple
of pounds a length (ArcEuroTrade, RDG etc), I grind these with a cheap
bench grinder and when I find a shape that I use a lot I look for it in
the insert range and add to my collection.
You will find the RH tool you use all the time, the LH only when you
have to "backface" etc and the SCBCR I use when I'm reducing the
diameter a lot and want to save wear on my other tips. I told you I was
a cheapskate.
Best regards
Keith
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