Help cutting new shafts

M

mcbilliard

Registered
I have problems in cutting new shafts from blanks. The shaft will vibrate about 12" into the cut no mater how much I am cutting or how fast the speed is. I was wondering if there is a special follow rest for this operation.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
shafts

Check the bearings of the cutter motor. Sometimes the armature is not balanced and the vibration will cause the chatter. I just found out myself that porter cable has changed their assembly method and excluded balancing the armature, thus my new routers don't work as well as my older ones. Blow out the armature and winding to remove any dust. If spindle driven, check bearings. Good luck, Kent
 
mcbilliard said:
I have problems in cutting new shafts from blanks. The shaft will vibrate about 12" into the cut no mater how much I am cutting or how fast the speed is. I was wondering if there is a special follow rest for this operation.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

What kind of lathe are you using? What are you using to cut with, router or what?...JER
 
I don't know what rpm I run, I've been doing it so long, I listen to the speed and have the sound tuned in for some reason but it's not real fast, my time per pass is set at about 3.5 minutes. I use a router mounted to a lathe.
 
mcbilliard said:
I have problems in cutting new shafts from blanks. The shaft will vibrate about 12" into the cut no mater how much I am cutting or how fast the speed is. I was wondering if there is a special follow rest for this operation.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

More details will make helping you 100 times easier.
 
This might sound dumb but you have already cut the corners off of the shaft blanks??? Right???The blanks should look like a stop sign (octagon) Are you making your first taper cut or turning them round???
 
I don't recomend anyone else do It, but when I first setup to cut shafts, the first passes I make, I follow with My hand, once I have things tuned in, then I can run the full lenth of the shafts and walk away each time. I run real slow passes Like Mike mentioned, and I'm cutting them as smooth as a baby's bottom with nothing more then a CS lathe.

As others mentioned, alot of questions could be answered to help solve the problem. Others I would add, would be watch the tailstock preasure, and questions like what type of cut are you making, a plunge cut or off the side of the bit? What equipment are You using and so on? Also as mentioned with the bearing having runout, good to check that also, and that your spindle is running true. My router is starting to pick up some runnout, and i can hear the bearings going out, altough so far is still cutting them smooth, but I have to have My speeds running perfect or i will pick up some chatter in the shaft.

There's got to be a sweet spot depending on the equipment, probably just a matter of finding It.:)

Greg
 
mcbilliard said:
I have problems in cutting new shafts from blanks. The shaft will vibrate about 12" into the cut no mater how much I am cutting or how fast the speed is. I was wondering if there is a special follow rest for this operation.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

A dull cutter will also cause the wood to vibrate.
 
mcbilliard said:
I have problems in cutting new shafts from blanks. The shaft will vibrate about 12" into the cut no mater how much I am cutting or how fast the speed is. I was wondering if there is a special follow rest for this operation.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Are you using a router to make the cut or the normal tool bit that you cut everything else with? If you are not using the router that is your problem. If you are using a router you need to address some of the concerns mentioned above.
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
 
Turning squares into rounds is going to cause a lot of vibration no matter what you use as it will be an intermittent cut. You really should cut off the corners on a band saw or such before hand.

I use a saw shaft machine for turning shafts but the same problems will exert themselves if things aren't set up right. End pressure is critical when turning a long thin spindle. The more pressure that is applied then the more compression in the center of the shaft that is going to cause flex and vibration. I have adjustable spring tension on my machine and the closer to finish size I get then the least amount of tension is applied. If I want I can go from a 1" square to 9mm in one pass but then a lot of pressure needs applied to keep the shaft turning on the centers as I use no drivers but just the very shallow centers that I have bored on the ends. The shaft wouldn't be very smooth in the middle I don't believe if taking that much off at one pass. Normally I use 1" dowels when available and take them down to 17mm in the first pass with no problem.

Dick
 
More Info

First off I need to tell you I purchased the cue making equipment and I am new and eager to learn. The lathe is an Enco 1340 with taper attachment. It does not have a router attachment to cut shafts and I am tring to cut the shafts from 1" Dowels that I puchased from the so called Ex cuemaker. I may be going about it in the wrong way. I have tried every bit configuration that I know of for this that I know of at every speed possible with my lathe. I would greatly appreciate any help.

I would also like to see a pic. of the router attachment and if it is even possible to cut shafts with a regular tool bit.

Please excuse the lack of knowledge on my part I was told by the so called Ex cuemaker that he never had a problem cutting shafts and I think it was because he never did......

Thank You
McBilliard
 
mcbilliard said:
First off I need to tell you I purchased the cue making equipment and I am new and eager to learn. The lathe is an Enco 1340 with taper attachment. It does not have a router attachment to cut shafts and I am tring to cut the shafts from 1" Dowels that I puchased from the so called Ex cuemaker. I may be going about it in the wrong way. I have tried every bit configuration that I know of for this that I know of at every speed possible with my lathe. I would greatly appreciate any help.

I would also like to see a pic. of the router attachment and if it is even possible to cut shafts with a regular tool bit.

Please excuse the lack of knowledge on my part I was told by the so called Ex cuemaker that he never had a problem cutting shafts and I think it was because he never did......

Thank You
McBilliard
Click to expand...
Get a router. If you need one set up to mount in your tool post I can set one up for you for a little over $200. Forget turning shafts with a regular tool bit. Get a router and you won't need a follow rest. I also strongly suggest getting my cue building book as it sounds like you got equipment without getting much training. You can see a router set up on my lathes at www.cuesmith.com Click on lathes. Or go to www.hightowercues.com and click on shop tour.
Chris
 
Yep, You need a router setup or your just pulling hair out. It's possible to cut a shaft out with manual tooling,some good steadying & a whole lot of final sanding, but sanding all the rings out can be tuff, and for the most part It's just PITW & hacking up Your good shaft wood. I've done It before, and You can can get a decent final result, but not worth the effort when there's a better way. You definatly need the router if You want smooth cuts with minimal effort. Sounds like You have a solid lathe, so you should be good to go once your setup with one.:)

Greg
 
JoeyInCali said:
Dear lord, he was using a single point tool bit?:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
Click to expand...

Relax there Joey. :eek: :p :eek:

Given this...
I was told by the so called Ex cuemaker that he never had a problem cutting shafts and I think it was because he never did......
Click to expand...

he may have been mislead a bit and perhaps his eagerness circumvented a little homework he should have done...

Kelly
 
What books would you recomend. BHQ sayes Hightowers book.

BHQ and qbilder have both PM me and explained the router attachment to me and I thank them very much for that.

I was misinformed by the so called cuemaker I purchased the equipment from. My appoligies to all for my ignorance. One day maybe I can return the favor and help another newbie like myself.

Thanks to ALL.
 
mcbilliard said:
What books would you recomend. BHQ sayes Hightowers book.

BHQ and qbilder have both PM me and explained the router attachment to me and I thank them very much for that.

I was misinformed by the so called cuemaker I purchased the equipment from. My appoligies to all for my ignorance. One day maybe I can return the favor and help another newbie like myself.

Thanks to ALL.
Click to expand...




Yes starting out the hightower book will be very usefull to You. It explains alot of the basics, and then some. The videos maybe usefull also, but the work is done on hightower equipment, altough alot of what's explained is also somewhat universal. Good Luck and welcome to the board:)

Greg
 
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