Gunsmithing Need Parting, Turning, Facing, Boring tool advice

[ebwillis]

I'm in the process of tooling up my lathe (Sharp 1340VS w/ Aloris BXA) and plan on cutting mostly steel and Aluminum. I need some help with regards to parting set up and cutting tools.

I'm new to this and a believer in crying once and buying once. I'm taking the "long fight" approach to tooling and don't need to buy everything at once. I'm willing to pay for quality.

My baseline=Low

Parting:
-Need recomendations for the most rigid set-up I can get. Option 1 is an Aloris #7 with either a HSS blade or their carbide insert holding blade. Option 2 is one of the Iscar blades, with tool block, in a holder. I don't know the model numbers for the Iscar stuff and the different inserts and models confuse the crap out of me.

Turning, Facing, and Boring:
My current thinking is indexable tool holders/bars that accept the same inserts. I like the idea of everything using the same insert to keep it somewhat simple for now. CCMT 21.51 inserts were recommended by a machinist friend.

I've seen a few sets by Micro 100 (4-piece boring bar, 7-piece turning/facing) that look like they will fit the bill but I've got no idea if they're any good or what the differences are between tool holder manufacturers.

This is a link to the 7-piece set: http://www.wttool.com/index/page/category/category_id/20403/

-Do I need all of the tools in this set or would I be fine with just an SCLCR, SCLCL, and an SCSCR?

-Are brands like this decent or crap and would I be better off getting a different brand up front?

-Am I in the black or high and to the right with my thinking?

I'm learning as I go and appreciate any advice.

S/F

 

[treebasher]

Re: Need Parting, Turning, Facing, Boring tool advice

I keep reading about these high speed steel tool inserts from:

http://www.arwarnerco.com/

Here is a good video on the tooling put together by a machinist that posts on Benchrest Central:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKGkkGFsF50&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

 

[LRI]

Re: Need Parting, Turning, Facing, Boring tool advice

Sandvik is your friend.

Bring two Visas. . .

 

[angelballer]

Re: Need Parting, Turning, Facing, Boring tool advice

I've heard good things about Micro 100 tools but have never used them. As far as the set goes, I think the parts you are trying to machine dictate what tool holders you need to buy. I use a Kennametal SCLCR for probably 95% of my outside turning so a set wouldn't be of much use to me.

I've also had good luck using Maritool's boring bars. The steel boring bars are an excellent value IMO and work fine as long as they aren't over-extended. They also sell inserts for a decent price last time I checked. For manual machining, I think some of the more expensive inserts are wasted as you aren't able to keep up with the machining speeds and feeds they usually call for which can reduce their life. Also, it sucks to chip an expensive insert after just replacing it doing something stupid...

 

[2156SMK]

Re: Need Parting, Turning, Facing, Boring tool advice

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ebwillis</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Turning, Facing, and Boring:
My current thinking is indexable tool holders/bars that accept the same inserts. I like the idea of everything using the same insert to keep it somewhat simple for now. CCMT 21.51 inserts were recommended by a machinist friend.

I've seen a few sets by Micro 100 (4-piece boring bar, 7-piece turning/facing) that look like they will fit the bill but I've got no idea if they're any good or what the differences are between tool holder manufacturers.

This is a link to the 7-piece set: http://www.wttool.com/index/page/category/category_id/20403/</div></div>

Don't go with CCMT insert tooling.
Take a step up and buy negative clearance toolholders that use 0 degree clearance inserts.
Then you are able to watch ebay for deals on inserts.
0 degree inserts have cutting edges on both sides of the insert instead of only on the top like positive clearance inserts.
Look at an mdjnr holder to use dnmg inserts as an idea of what I am talking about.

Also, learn the insert nomenclature and you will be able to buy inserts with higher tolerance specs at a fraction of the cost of the lower grades since people don't know the ANSI lettering system...

http://shopswarf.orconhosting.net.nz/ansiinsert.html

For example, everyone knows what a dnmg insert is, but nobody bids on dngg and dndg inserts which are the higher tolerance versions of dnmg inserts...

 

[msalm]

Re: Need Parting, Turning, Facing, Boring tool advice

Don't forget to buy a few good sticks of HSS, and get extra toolholders.

 

[ebwillis]

Re: Need Parting, Turning, Facing, Boring tool advice

Investigating the Sandvik tooling and the other insert styles.

-Any specific recomendations for a parting set-up?
-What are the most used turning tool styles (SCLCR, etc.)?

Thanks for the help.

S/F

 

[Ritten]

Re: Need Parting, Turning, Facing, Boring tool advice

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: C. Dixon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sandvik is your friend.

Bring two Visas. . .

</div></div>

Do you have to purchase directly from them or is there an online retailer who carries their tools?? I consider myself somewhat web savvy, but trying to navigate around their website is like chasing a chicken!

 

[2156SMK]

Re: Need Parting, Turning, Facing, Boring tool advice

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ebwillis</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Investigating the Sandvik tooling and the other insert styles.

-Any specific recomendations for a parting set-up?
-What are the most used turning tool styles (SCLCR, etc.)?

Thanks for the help.

S/F </div></div>

I find that I don't need to do much parting off besides small bushings and spacers and such.
I use a BXA toolholder and a "T" profile parting blade.

I use a bandsaw (with coolant) to cut barrels to length.
Then I just face them in the lathe.

 

[ebwillis]

Re: Need Parting, Turning, Facing, Boring tool advice

Fond some Sandvik stuff at Grainger.

S/F

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Need Parting, Turning, Facing, Boring tool advice

Try looking at MSC Industrial Supply and their sister company ENCO. Both have web sites and sell to the general public. But if you're big enough to have a business license and sales tax letter, you get a different discount.

KennaMetal, Sandvic, Carbaloy all are good brands.

Aloris makes good tool holders.

Get a Machinery's Handbook and take some classes at your local community college or Vo-Tech school.

Good luck and be careful.