Another ball turner

[ShawnR]

Originally Posted by Lew Hartswick

Since the ball turner morphed into a tap handle I gave up. Just went back to see if anything happened to the orig subject. :-) Let me know when you get that ball turner to do some like these. :-)
...lew...

Yes Lew, the thread did start to drift off a bit but I think we have been back on track. Unfortunately, the project slowed down in the testing/learning stage when I decided I should make a mandrel. That did not go well and resulted in a thread over in Machining on threading, that the guys have been helping me out with. I am almost ready to complete the mandrel and will get back to ball making.

I guess I should say you have nice balls, ...but that just does not sound appropriate. Maybe ok in a machinist forum.

The turner might work out like that, not sure about the operator though. I will post some updates of my b___s, aahhh, projects, when I get there.

Cheers,
Shawn

[ShawnR]

Originally Posted by Lew Hartswick

....... Let me know when you get that ball turner to do some like these. :-)
...lew...

Lew, could you please post a picture of the ball turner you use to make those balls/rod ends?

I find with mine that I need to turn down the rod quite a ways back from the ball or the tool holder hits the shaft, so really, it ends up looking more like a rod end than a ball. Not sure if I am doing something wrong in setup or just the geometry of the tool that is causing me interference. I see you can turn very close to the shoulder.

Thanks
Shawn

[toprecycler]

It’s looking good. Nice that you have to use it to put the finishing parts on it.


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[greywynd]

Your tool setup is what is limiting you. With the ‘tip’ of the triangle ahead, the rear left corner interferes.

If you rework your tool so the tip points to the left and becomes the ‘leading’ part of the tool you’ll be able to get a lot closer to the shaft or shoulder.


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[ShawnR]

Originally Posted by greywynd

Your tool setup is what is limiting you. With the ‘tip’ of the triangle ahead, the rear left corner interferes.

If you rework your tool so the tip points to the left and becomes the ‘leading’ part of the tool you’ll be able to get a lot closer to the shaft or shoulder.

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Good point. I will try to sketch something else. I wonder if a long slender bit ie parting tool would do it. It would allow you to be back from the material but still get in there.....?

I googled videos and interestingly, the first one I find is the same turner, but I see the mandrel shaft size is small. I was thinking a larger diameter, more robust shaft would be better but it appears it interferes. I will play around and see what I can figure out or find. Lew has some info for me too. I will report back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGLL7cMdHk

Thanks
Cheers
Shawn

[Lew Hartswick]

A couple of pix of the tool ( Holdridge Radii Cutter ) with the first model of my cutter to do the balls. NOTE there followed model 2 and model 3 that shrunk the size to about a quarter of that shown. :-) The "prototype" was just a ground cutter in a temporary bit to hold it but it worked .
...lew...

[ShawnR]

Lew
That seems more involved that my project but I guess if you have the radii cutter already, it is not too hard to build and looks like a very effective tool.

I am happy with mine now. I spent some time with it today. I found the cutter was not cutting overly well either. It seemed to cut ok on the face but coming around the side, not so much, and going back from side to front (actually front to tail stock end), really poor, so I put a piece of tig rod under the back of it. World of difference! It gives the negative rake angle that I think I am supposed to have...if I have that right..

If I was to do it again, or explore other cutter options, ie Lew's style of cutter or a high speed steel bit, I will plan to build the required angle into the holder, if necessary.

I also modified my mandrel to accommodate the tool better, ie reduced the shaft behind the threads. This is an easier fix than changing the tool holder I think.