WFT Insert(s)

[Brad]

Grind one. Took me 15-20 minutes total to make this one. Works quite well. Will go about an inch deep. Started with a 5/15 HSS square blank from MSC.

Insert tooling is nice but being able to grind a tool is even better.

 

[Ian]

I've ground all mine from tool steel.

 

[Gary]

Good to know guys, thanks.

 

[Brad]

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/02603207

At a couple bucks each these are nice to keep on hand. I have ground tools into both ends in some cases.

Look at good wheels for the grinder too. Cut faster and cooler. Mine are white from Norton. Makes all the difference in the world. They wear faster but it is worth it.

 

[Ian]

I was skittish about grinding my own tools without a special grinder, special stones, rests, blocks, and all that, but I just jumped into it with the stones I happened to have on my bench grinder and did fine....but I'm the kind of person who wouldn't know what to do with the correct tools and formal instruction and tend to make do with what I have handy. Some final work with sharpening stones helps get a fine edge.

 

[Brad]

I just got new wheels for an old Craftsman bench grinder. No special rests or anything, just the Mark I eyeball and my hands.
Like Ian said a little work with a stone finishes the job. A rehoning now and then is a good idea.

 

[Gary]

About 2 hrs ago I started turning my insert(s) made 3 passes and started the 4th when the motor quit. No lugging down, it just quit. I've checked the fuse, which was good and the green light shines on the control box. Tore it down to access the motor brushes and they look almost new. Obviously I checked the belt and drive pulley, both good to go and I'm out of options unless there is a reset button/switch somewhere and I don't see it in the manual. I was taking light cuts in Aluminum round rod (.003) running k@ 375rpm.
I'm open to any suggestions. However, I fear the motor is kaput!

 

[Ian]

Pull out the brushes and have a look. You should be able to access one on the front side under the bedways and one from the back after taking off the sheet metal motor cover.

I hope it isn't the control board. See if you can get an RPM reading on the DRO by spinning the chuck by hand.

 

[Gary]

I already did that Ian, I misspoke in my previous post and called the brushes, fuses. They hardly look worn. I do get a reading on the DRO when turning the chuck. This lathe is over a year old and the motor/parts are out of warranty. Neighbor is going to look at it tomorrow (he's sharp with electrical motors) and I'll get his opinion.

 

[Gary]

Got diagnostics completed today and part ordered. It's one of the boards (the one with the transformer) not letting power go to the motor. No idea why the board failed, I just hope the motor wasn't damaged as well. I'll know after I get the board installed.

 

[Ian]

Well, keep us posted. I'm knocking on wood, you've had two failures so far and I've had zero to date, and used it a good bit more.

 

[Gary]

Actually just one failure Ian, the other was definitely "operator error". But I actually gained from the experience, I can replace headstock gears fairly easy. The guy at Tech Support was very helpful and seemed to know about this type of board failure.