Hightower quick change tool post
- Thread starter LittleDoc
- Start date
I think you can order an aluminum quick change from amazon for about 30 bucks and take 1/4 to 3/8 tooling
OXA holders will normally take between 1/8" and 1/2" tools. 3/8" have worked best for me.
Do yourself a favor and pick up some indexable carbide tool holders, I am having great luck with the Accusize 2387-2003 set (found on amazon). Reasonable price and have had no issues. Even though I only use 4 out of the set I couldn't find them cheaper individually so I just sprang for the set.
If you go that route you'll want to ditch the inserts they come with and get some inserts made for aluminum/brass as they are much sharper and work perfect for wood and plastics. These can be had reasonably on ebay as "KORLOY DCGT 070202-AK H01 / DCGT 21.50.5 -AK H01 CNC Carbide Inserts" and "CCGT060201-AK H01 CCGT21.5-AK CNC carbide inserts".
There are several guides that explain the codes for the inserts, do a google search and familiarize yourself with those codes to be sure you get the right ones for what you're machining.
Or you can just use high speed steel tools for now to save some money. But once you try the inserts you'll never go back, they last forever without needing sharpening and leave a real nice finish.
Hope this helps!
Do yourself a favor and pick up some indexable carbide tool holders, I am having great luck with the Accusize 2387-2003 set (found on amazon). Reasonable price and have had no issues. Even though I only use 4 out of the set I couldn't find them cheaper individually so I just sprang for the set.
If you go that route you'll want to ditch the inserts they come with and get some inserts made for aluminum/brass as they are much sharper and work perfect for wood and plastics. These can be had reasonably on ebay as "KORLOY DCGT 070202-AK H01 / DCGT 21.50.5 -AK H01 CNC Carbide Inserts" and "CCGT060201-AK H01 CCGT21.5-AK CNC carbide inserts".
There are several guides that explain the codes for the inserts, do a google search and familiarize yourself with those codes to be sure you get the right ones for what you're machining.
Or you can just use high speed steel tools for now to save some money. But once you try the inserts you'll never go back, they last forever without needing sharpening and leave a real nice finish.
Hope this helps!
SSDiver2112
Escott Cues
I added the OXA post right after I got my lathe. The indexable tools followed right after.
Thank you for the insert advice. It makes sense now, but I hadn't thought about getting different ones. They just arrived this morning so I'll give them a test tonight.
The difference is night and day. The inserts they normally ship with are made for steel and have a rather blunt cutting edge. I couldn't find any that shipped with "made for aluminum" inserts. I'm positive you'll be happy with the results.
For anyone else that see this thread in the future, I also should have been more clear about the insert codes... the codes not only indicate the size and type (shape) to fit the holder, they also indicate the radius of the point, along with coatings, material to be cut, etc, etc. The ones I mentioned have a very small radius, for an even smoother finish, especially on plastics, one could use a slightly larger point radius.
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SSDiver2112
Escott Cues
Yes it got a bit complicated to figure out at first. The codes can be ANSI versions or ISO versions so you need the right chart to decipher them. Lot of resources online.
Here is an ANSI Example.
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