• Those Cheap Diamond Inserts

    From Bob La Londe@21:1/5 to All on Sun Jul 28 16:45:23 2024
    I was struggling trying to face some big 304 stainless mold inserts to
    length. 1.5" diameter & 1.375" length. Saw cut of course. Parting
    these off is an exercise in frustration.

    For most stainless work I hand sharpen HSS Cobalt bits, but I was
    struggling with my facing tool and to get decent finish would have to
    touch it up after ever pass. I guess I could move the grinder over by
    the lathe (cringe) and set a diamond bench stone on the tool cart, but
    it was rough.

    Now as some of you know a lot of mini lathe users swear by those little
    21.51 or 21.52 DCMT diamond inserts. I had one tool with one in a tool
    holder and I tried it because nothing else was working for me. I
    finished both ends with a single pass on each end of the last six parts
    with one insert that looks the same when I finished as when I started.
    After I finished I started going through my box looking to see how many
    spares I had. Ummm. Zero. There were two broken ones on the head
    stock, but no spares.

    The finish is decent. I just bought some more that are listed as alloy/stainless. Also another turning tool, and a boring bar that uses
    them as well. I almost bought a through coolant solid carbide boring
    bar too, but that will have to wait until the next job comes in the shop.

    I don't even think I was using it right. It was a right hand turning
    tool and I was just face/plunging it into the saw cut end pushing a cone
    off the middle as it finish. I was amazed at how well it worked with
    such an aggressive cut and no chatter. I even considered turning up the
    speed.


    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff

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  • From Bob La Londe@21:1/5 to Bob La Londe on Mon Jul 29 12:34:20 2024
    On 7/28/2024 4:45 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
    I was struggling trying to face some big 304 stainless mold inserts to length.  1.5" diameter & 1.375" length.  Saw cut of course.  Parting
    these off is an exercise in frustration.

    For most stainless work I hand sharpen HSS Cobalt bits, but I was
    struggling with my facing tool and to get decent finish would have to
    touch it up after ever pass.  I guess I could move the grinder over by
    the lathe (cringe) and set a diamond bench stone on the tool cart, but
    it was rough.

    Now as some of you know a lot of mini lathe users swear by those little
    21.51 or 21.52 DCMT diamond inserts.  I had one tool with one in a tool holder and I tried it because nothing else was working for me.  I
    finished both ends with a single pass on each end of the last six parts
    with one insert that looks the same when I finished as when I started.
    After I finished I started going through my box looking to see how many spares I had.  Ummm. Zero.  There were two broken ones on the head
    stock, but no spares.

    The finish is decent.  I just bought some more that are listed as alloy/stainless.  Also another turning tool, and a boring bar that uses
    them as well.  I almost bought a through coolant solid carbide boring
    bar too, but that will have to wait until the next job comes in the shop.

    I don't even think I was using it right.  It was a right hand turning
    tool and I was just face/plunging it into the saw cut end pushing a cone
    off the middle as it finish.  I was amazed at how well it worked with
    such an aggressive cut and no chatter.  I even considered turning up the speed.




    Its one of those things. You never see the big boys using those tiny
    inserts. They always have these expensive inserts on giant tools that
    make chips that hit the floor with a clank. I don't have a giant lathe,
    but it does weigh a ton (2000lbs). Its only 3HP, but being a gear head
    its putting out its full real power (whatever that is) at any speed. I
    should be able to take a decent chip and not blow up inserts. To be
    fair the lathe does have a coolant system, but I never use it due to the
    mess. I tend towards cutting oil.

    I know those little bitty inserts work on mini lathes, but I never
    really used them much on the PM14x40 except where needed to cut a back clearance or something like that. I should know better. They made a
    bigger depth of cut and bigger feed per rev than other things and there
    was less heat build up in the part. No coolant. Just a few drops of
    cutting oil.

    I'm going to quit pretending I have a big boy lathe and just go back to everything I learned on the mini lathe that worked.

    P.S. While I do not recommend them I made a lot of parts on the mini
    lathe including paid parts. Not just brass or aluminum either.


    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff


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  • From Richard Smith@21:1/5 to All on Tue Jul 30 07:38:02 2024
    I heard diamond
    * works for Ali because it has no solubility for Carbon
    * does not work for irons/steels because the hard tool "disappears" by
    solution into the iron
    ?

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  • From Bob La Londe@21:1/5 to Richard Smith on Tue Jul 30 10:54:55 2024
    On 7/29/2024 11:38 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
    I heard diamond
    * works for Ali because it has no solubility for Carbon
    * does not work for irons/steels because the hard tool "disappears" by
    solution into the iron
    ?

    My apologies. I didn't at all mean something like a PVD diamond
    coating. DCMT is a diamond shaped insert. Typically your find them
    coated with TiN, uncoated, and occasionally with TiAlN or AlTiN
    coatings. My point was these small geometry inserts that work so well
    in under power under-rigid machines like the typical import 7-8 by 10-16
    mini lathe also work on a heavier machine. If the big boy inserts don't
    work these still do. In this case I was cutting 304 stainless steel. It improved the finish, didn't require sharpening, had less heat input, and
    did the job much faster net elapsed time.

    FYI: I do a fair amount of aluminum cutting, and generally I've found
    bright sharp uncoated tools do the best job and have the best material
    removal rate for me and leave a good finish. Diamond was popular when I
    first started cutting aluminum on machine tools, and more recently ZrN
    has become the popular coating. I've tried them and the simple fact is
    a coated tool isn't as sharp. They might work better for larger tools
    on larger machines, but on middle weight machines with limited
    horsepower (5 or less) a bright sharp uncoated tool works best for me.
    For high speed flood coolant makes the tool last without chip welding,
    but coatings do not. On smaller tools horsepower isn't even a factor as
    the tool can't take it anyway.


    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff


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  • From Richard Smith@21:1/5 to Bob La Londe on Tue Jul 30 22:44:50 2024
    Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> writes:

    On 7/29/2024 11:38 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
    I heard diamond
    * works for Ali because it has no solubility for Carbon
    * does not work for irons/steels because the hard tool "disappears" by
    solution into the iron
    ?

    My apologies. I didn't at all mean something like a PVD diamond
    coating. DCMT is a diamond shaped insert. Typically your find them
    coated with TiN, uncoated, and occasionally with TiAlN or AlTiN
    coatings. My point was these small geometry inserts that work so well
    in under power under-rigid machines like the typical import 7-8 by
    10-16 mini lathe also work on a heavier machine. If the big boy
    inserts don't work these still do. In this case I was cutting 304
    stainless steel. It improved the finish, didn't require sharpening,
    had less heat input, and did the job much faster net elapsed time.

    FYI: I do a fair amount of aluminum cutting, and generally I've found
    bright sharp uncoated tools do the best job and have the best material removal rate for me and leave a good finish. Diamond was popular when
    I first started cutting aluminum on machine tools, and more recently
    ZrN has become the popular coating. I've tried them and the simple
    fact is a coated tool isn't as sharp. They might work better for
    larger tools on larger machines, but on middle weight machines with
    limited horsepower (5 or less) a bright sharp uncoated tool works best
    for me. For high speed flood coolant makes the tool last without chip welding, but coatings do not. On smaller tools horsepower isn't even
    a factor as the tool can't take it anyway.


    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff

    Thx for this detail.
    Interesting yes certainly.
    Sorry "got the wrong end of the stick".

    I used cutting insert tooling - aagh - 30 years ago.
    Vertical milling shell-cutter on steel.
    Did well - they'd never seen steel chip ejection like a chain-saw
    cutting timber. Took a visit from the rep. who explained this is how
    the tooling is supposed to be used :-)
    Coated carbide inserts - coating the gold coloured one - a Ti nitride(?) coating - for this steel.

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  • From Bob La Londe@21:1/5 to Richard Smith on Sun Aug 18 17:02:31 2024
    On 7/30/2024 2:44 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
    Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> writes:

    On 7/29/2024 11:38 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
    I heard diamond
    * works for Ali because it has no solubility for Carbon
    * does not work for irons/steels because the hard tool "disappears" by
    solution into the iron
    ?

    My apologies. I didn't at all mean something like a PVD diamond
    coating. DCMT is a diamond shaped insert. Typically your find them
    coated with TiN, uncoated, and occasionally with TiAlN or AlTiN
    coatings. My point was these small geometry inserts that work so well
    in under power under-rigid machines like the typical import 7-8 by
    10-16 mini lathe also work on a heavier machine. If the big boy
    inserts don't work these still do. In this case I was cutting 304
    stainless steel. It improved the finish, didn't require sharpening,
    had less heat input, and did the job much faster net elapsed time.

    FYI: I do a fair amount of aluminum cutting, and generally I've found
    bright sharp uncoated tools do the best job and have the best material
    removal rate for me and leave a good finish. Diamond was popular when
    I first started cutting aluminum on machine tools, and more recently
    ZrN has become the popular coating. I've tried them and the simple
    fact is a coated tool isn't as sharp. They might work better for
    larger tools on larger machines, but on middle weight machines with
    limited horsepower (5 or less) a bright sharp uncoated tool works best
    for me. For high speed flood coolant makes the tool last without chip
    welding, but coatings do not. On smaller tools horsepower isn't even
    a factor as the tool can't take it anyway.


    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff

    Thx for this detail.
    Interesting yes certainly.
    Sorry "got the wrong end of the stick".

    I used cutting insert tooling - aagh - 30 years ago.
    Vertical milling shell-cutter on steel.
    Did well - they'd never seen steel chip ejection like a chain-saw
    cutting timber. Took a visit from the rep. who explained this is how
    the tooling is supposed to be used :-)
    Coated carbide inserts - coating the gold coloured one - a Ti nitride(?) coating - for this steel.


    Pushing it harder and harder. As I once offended Jim a little (sorry
    Jim) over... time is money. Even if you are doing something for fun,
    favor, self... time is still your most valuable nonrenewable resource.

    I needed to make another batch of stainless mold cores today. (Stock
    design that uses upto nine (9) 1.5in diameter cores to varY the size of
    the casting. That's 18 cuts to true them up after they come off the saw.

    My new inserts arrived a few days ago ago, but I wantedif I could bump
    up the speed a bit with that little hobby lathe size insert. I had been
    using at at 300 RPM in low gear. That's a starting SFM of 117 if I have
    done the math right. I am sure there are folks pushing big turning
    centers orders of magnitude faster, but this is after all only a bigger
    import lathe. Its still an import lathe, and while its relatively
    heavy, its light for its size.

    Of course the SFM drops as the diameter is reduced. Maybe I could go
    faster if I cranked up the speed as I reduced the diameter, but this is
    a single phase gear head lathe. The motor just turns one speed. The
    time to stop it and change gears would eat up any time savings.

    Just for the heck of it I decided to see how much faster I could start.
    At 460 RPM the insert was still doing fine. Still using the same insert
    I used when I started this thread. I don't mean the same type. I mean
    the same insert. That means the insert was hitting the outside of the
    stock at 180 SFM. The number doesn't sound much bigger, but the part
    time was definitely faster.

    A couple ends with an intact insert at that speed and I decided to try
    the last couple parts at 755 RPM. 296 SFM. That was significantly
    faster. Part time was a lot shorter, and the insert still looks like
    when I started. (I'll look at under magnification later) It wasn't so
    fast that I had any issue keeping up, but it was fast enough I couldn't
    do anything else, like move the stock in the saw to cut the next rough
    blank.

    Now that I have spares I think next time I cut a batch of these cores I
    am going to push it until I chip an insert to see just what they will do.

    Please bare in mind that these are relatively light cuts. The blanks
    come off the saw at about 1.4" to 1.41" and get trued to 1.375".



    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff
    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff


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  • From Snag@21:1/5 to Jim Wilkins on Mon Aug 19 06:47:10 2024
    On 8/19/2024 5:54 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
    "Bob La Londe"  wrote in message news:v9u22n$2ihff$1@dont-email.me...

    You didn't offend me, I describe what I know best, which is low volume
    custom work, perhaps relevant to a hobbyist. I haven't done enough
    production machining to comment on it.

    What is the insert? Maybe there's hope for using it on my leather belt antique South Bend. So far except for the GTN-2 cutoff insert of unknown
    make they have all quickly chipped. I get away with HSS only because it doesn't need to hold size very long.
    jsw

    I've been using a lot of carbide tooling on my 10" Logan since I
    built the QCTP ... but I'm not getting rid of the lantern toolpost and
    HSS stuff because thewe are just some things it works better on .
    --
    Snag
    Illegitimi non carborundum

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  • From Peter Fairbrother@21:1/5 to Snag on Mon Aug 19 14:13:21 2024
    On 19/08/2024 12:47, Snag wrote:

      I've been using a lot of carbide tooling on my 10" Logan since I
    built the QCTP ... but I'm not getting rid of the lantern toolpost and
    HSS stuff because thewe are just some things it works better on .

    Yep. Any interrupted cuts, anything where you need a really sharp edge (copper,anyone?), anywhere you do not have overwhelming power - inserts
    are designed for use in powerful machines and don't usually have sharp
    edges, so need more power than HSS.

    Horses for courses. Though I mostly use inserts myself even on a minilathe.

    Peter Fairbrother

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  • From Snag@21:1/5 to Peter Fairbrother on Mon Aug 19 09:47:42 2024
    On 8/19/2024 8:13 AM, Peter Fairbrother wrote:
    On 19/08/2024 12:47, Snag wrote:

       I've been using a lot of carbide tooling on my 10" Logan since I
    built the QCTP ... but I'm not getting rid of the lantern toolpost and
    HSS stuff because thewe are just some things it works better on .

    Yep. Any interrupted  cuts, anything where you need a really sharp edge (copper,anyone?), anywhere you do not have overwhelming power - inserts
    are designed for use in powerful machines and don't usually have sharp
    edges, so need more power than HSS.

    Horses for courses. Though I mostly use inserts myself even on a minilathe.

    Peter Fairbrother

    And I just found out how fragile threading inserts can be ... I'm
    sure glad I bought extras ! I hope I hit the knee of the learning curve
    before I run out .
    --
    Snag
    Illegitimi non carborundum

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  • From Bob La Londe@21:1/5 to Snag on Mon Aug 19 11:15:11 2024
    On 8/19/2024 4:47 AM, Snag wrote:
    On 8/19/2024 5:54 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
    "Bob La Londe"  wrote in message news:v9u22n$2ihff$1@dont-email.me...

    You didn't offend me, I describe what I know best, which is low volume
    custom work, perhaps relevant to a hobbyist. I haven't done enough
    production machining to comment on it.

    What is the insert? Maybe there's hope for using it on my leather belt
    antique South Bend. So far except for the GTN-2 cutoff insert of
    unknown make they have all quickly chipped. I get away with HSS only
    because it doesn't need to hold size very long.
    jsw

      I've been using a lot of carbide tooling on my 10" Logan since I
    built the QCTP ... but I'm not getting rid of the lantern toolpost and
    HSS stuff because thewe are just some things it works better on .


    There is certainly something to be said for being able to freehand grind
    a specialty HSS tool, but for the most part I just put them in tool
    holders for my QCTP.
    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff


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  • From Bob La Londe@21:1/5 to Jim Wilkins on Mon Aug 19 11:18:31 2024
    On 8/19/2024 3:54 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
    "Bob La Londe"  wrote in message news:v9u22n$2ihff$1@dont-email.me...

    You didn't offend me, I describe what I know best, which is low volume
    custom work, perhaps relevant to a hobbyist. I haven't done enough
    production machining to comment on it.

    What is the insert? Maybe there's hope for using it on my leather belt antique South Bend. So far except for the GTN-2 cutoff insert of unknown
    make they have all quickly chipped. I get away with HSS only because it doesn't need to hold size very long.
    jsw

    I'm actually not 100% sure about this particular insert. It might be a unicorn. I think it came on a tool. I'll let you know how the
    alloy/stainless inserts I bought work out when I finally destroy this
    one and have to swap it out.

    I think the big deal is that the small insert has to have smaller
    geometry so it works better when making smaller cuts.


    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff


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  • From Bob La Londe@21:1/5 to Bob La Londe on Mon Aug 19 11:21:49 2024
    On 8/19/2024 11:15 AM, Bob La Londe wrote:
    On 8/19/2024 4:47 AM, Snag wrote:
    On 8/19/2024 5:54 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
    "Bob La Londe"  wrote in message news:v9u22n$2ihff$1@dont-email.me...

    You didn't offend me, I describe what I know best, which is low
    volume custom work, perhaps relevant to a hobbyist. I haven't done
    enough production machining to comment on it.

    What is the insert? Maybe there's hope for using it on my leather
    belt antique South Bend. So far except for the GTN-2 cutoff insert of
    unknown make they have all quickly chipped. I get away with HSS only
    because it doesn't need to hold size very long.
    jsw

       I've been using a lot of carbide tooling on my 10" Logan since I
    built the QCTP ... but I'm not getting rid of the lantern toolpost and
    HSS stuff because thewe are just some things it works better on .


    There is certainly something to be said for being able to freehand grind
    a specialty HSS tool, but for the most part I just put them in tool
    holders for my QCTP.


    I suppose a lantern tool post "might" be able to hold a smaller scrap of
    HSS, but to really get the most out of your HSS a tangential holder
    might be the way to go.


    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff


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  • From Bob La Londe@21:1/5 to Jim Wilkins on Mon Aug 19 15:43:56 2024
    On 8/19/2024 3:21 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
    "Bob La Londe"  wrote in message news:va02fs$2veo1$1@dont-email.me...

    I suppose a lantern tool post "might" be able to hold a smaller scrap of
    HSS, but to really get the most out of your HSS a tangential holder
    might be the way to go.

    Bob La Londe
    -------------------------------
    I have a good selection of Armstrong and similar bit holders, obsolete 1960s-style tooling that matches my 1965 lathe. It's fine for carbon
    steel up through Grade 8 bolt hardness and puttering geezer productivity.

    I've seen only a few tangential holders for sale, for formed threading
    bits and priced high. I made one to hold the shank of a broken carbide
    drill bit nearly upright to turn the race grooves in a stainless thrust bearing sized to fit pipe, for a solar array. My hands are still steady enough to grind a threading bit to closely fit the arrow gauge.

    Today's rainy day project is turning closer fitting spacers and bushings
    for the ball bearings in the sawmill blade guide rollers.
    jsw


    I have freehand ground a lot of things, and I can probably make an
    adequate threading cutter, but a simple miter gage and slot in a tool
    rest makes it achievable for nearly anybody. Even a puttering geezer.


    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff


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  • From Charlie+@21:1/5 to Bob La Londe on Tue Aug 20 07:50:34 2024
    On Sun, 18 Aug 2024 17:02:31 -0700, Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> wrote
    as underneath :

    On 7/30/2024 2:44 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
    Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> writes:

    On 7/29/2024 11:38 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
    I heard diamond
    * works for Ali because it has no solubility for Carbon
    * does not work for irons/steels because the hard tool "disappears" by >>>> solution into the iron
    ?

    My apologies. I didn't at all mean something like a PVD diamond
    coating. DCMT is a diamond shaped insert. Typically your find them
    coated with TiN, uncoated, and occasionally with TiAlN or AlTiN
    coatings. My point was these small geometry inserts that work so well
    in under power under-rigid machines like the typical import 7-8 by
    10-16 mini lathe also work on a heavier machine. If the big boy
    inserts don't work these still do. In this case I was cutting 304
    stainless steel. It improved the finish, didn't require sharpening,
    had less heat input, and did the job much faster net elapsed time.

    FYI: I do a fair amount of aluminum cutting, and generally I've found
    bright sharp uncoated tools do the best job and have the best material
    removal rate for me and leave a good finish. Diamond was popular when
    I first started cutting aluminum on machine tools, and more recently
    ZrN has become the popular coating. I've tried them and the simple
    fact is a coated tool isn't as sharp. They might work better for
    larger tools on larger machines, but on middle weight machines with
    limited horsepower (5 or less) a bright sharp uncoated tool works best
    for me. For high speed flood coolant makes the tool last without chip
    welding, but coatings do not. On smaller tools horsepower isn't even
    a factor as the tool can't take it anyway.


    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff

    Thx for this detail.
    Interesting yes certainly.
    Sorry "got the wrong end of the stick".

    I used cutting insert tooling - aagh - 30 years ago.
    Vertical milling shell-cutter on steel.
    Did well - they'd never seen steel chip ejection like a chain-saw
    cutting timber. Took a visit from the rep. who explained this is how
    the tooling is supposed to be used :-)
    Coated carbide inserts - coating the gold coloured one - a Ti nitride(?)
    coating - for this steel.


    Pushing it harder and harder. As I once offended Jim a little (sorry
    Jim) over... time is money. Even if you are doing something for fun,
    favor, self... time is still your most valuable nonrenewable resource.

    I needed to make another batch of stainless mold cores today. (Stock
    design that uses upto nine (9) 1.5in diameter cores to varY the size of
    the casting. That's 18 cuts to true them up after they come off the saw.

    My new inserts arrived a few days ago ago, but I wantedif I could bump
    up the speed a bit with that little hobby lathe size insert. I had been >using at at 300 RPM in low gear. That's a starting SFM of 117 if I have
    done the math right. I am sure there are folks pushing big turning
    centers orders of magnitude faster, but this is after all only a bigger >import lathe. Its still an import lathe, and while its relatively
    heavy, its light for its size.

    Of course the SFM drops as the diameter is reduced. Maybe I could go
    faster if I cranked up the speed as I reduced the diameter, but this is
    a single phase gear head lathe. The motor just turns one speed. The
    time to stop it and change gears would eat up any time savings.

    Just for the heck of it I decided to see how much faster I could start.
    At 460 RPM the insert was still doing fine. Still using the same insert
    I used when I started this thread. I don't mean the same type. I mean
    the same insert. That means the insert was hitting the outside of the
    stock at 180 SFM. The number doesn't sound much bigger, but the part
    time was definitely faster.

    A couple ends with an intact insert at that speed and I decided to try
    the last couple parts at 755 RPM. 296 SFM. That was significantly
    faster. Part time was a lot shorter, and the insert still looks like
    when I started. (I'll look at under magnification later) It wasn't so
    fast that I had any issue keeping up, but it was fast enough I couldn't
    do anything else, like move the stock in the saw to cut the next rough
    blank.

    Now that I have spares I think next time I cut a batch of these cores I
    am going to push it until I chip an insert to see just what they will do.

    Please bare in mind that these are relatively light cuts. The blanks
    come off the saw at about 1.4" to 1.41" and get trued to 1.375".

    Interesting thread Bob, thanks, is this example the type of tool you are talking about? Never come across the diamond tipped versions of inserts
    but my original machining in industry experience was in the 1960's! Only
    hobby level now.. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115334715488?_nkw=diamond+inserts+carbide+lathe&itmmeta=01J5Q723XNA0GREWTN8RFZEQK2&hash=item1ada7c1860:g:YyUAAOSwUtJiUKWN&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKnC8gu8jBQODZUzjY6nfSpuZas%
    2FJzGcWIYLgG5EPfxVgG0wH1c4QdrYrUHqD4z98NSE8atbz28SHAAsTTB%2FvXsdw1KSXcN7%2Bx6cwyg%2FcKXwvDq3eEqXZbpx%2Bzxtc0f0%2Fp0BsyoIUtnlZlJQI86p6TyhETkaZsGuuwYw1Ayo2CHAORe6WE1WiaDElO8xogeQY1mItmsxVxjRLhavW15vEW5hMGkyR8srWzmxrGq4dX%2B9yZ23zhsDDiiDdifsQ%2Bk8r7IRPefZ9T%
    2FppdLbpKF%2FwpjM%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_S-iOetZA
    It says for non ferrous but you are using on stainless without any red
    spark? Can they be touched up if/when the edge goes? I know its only a
    single but looks uncheap to me! C+

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From David Billington@21:1/5 to All on Tue Aug 20 16:48:55 2024
    On 20/08/2024 07:50, Charlie+ wrote:
    On Sun, 18 Aug 2024 17:02:31 -0700, Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> wrote
    as underneath :

    On 7/30/2024 2:44 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
    Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> writes:

    On 7/29/2024 11:38 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
    I heard diamond
    * works for Ali because it has no solubility for Carbon
    * does not work for irons/steels because the hard tool "disappears" by >>>>> solution into the iron
    ?
    My apologies. I didn't at all mean something like a PVD diamond
    coating. DCMT is a diamond shaped insert. Typically your find them
    coated with TiN, uncoated, and occasionally with TiAlN or AlTiN
    coatings. My point was these small geometry inserts that work so well >>>> in under power under-rigid machines like the typical import 7-8 by
    10-16 mini lathe also work on a heavier machine. If the big boy
    inserts don't work these still do. In this case I was cutting 304
    stainless steel. It improved the finish, didn't require sharpening,
    had less heat input, and did the job much faster net elapsed time.

    FYI: I do a fair amount of aluminum cutting, and generally I've found >>>> bright sharp uncoated tools do the best job and have the best material >>>> removal rate for me and leave a good finish. Diamond was popular when >>>> I first started cutting aluminum on machine tools, and more recently
    ZrN has become the popular coating. I've tried them and the simple
    fact is a coated tool isn't as sharp. They might work better for
    larger tools on larger machines, but on middle weight machines with
    limited horsepower (5 or less) a bright sharp uncoated tool works best >>>> for me. For high speed flood coolant makes the tool last without chip
    welding, but coatings do not. On smaller tools horsepower isn't even
    a factor as the tool can't take it anyway.


    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff
    Thx for this detail.
    Interesting yes certainly.
    Sorry "got the wrong end of the stick".

    I used cutting insert tooling - aagh - 30 years ago.
    Vertical milling shell-cutter on steel.
    Did well - they'd never seen steel chip ejection like a chain-saw
    cutting timber. Took a visit from the rep. who explained this is how
    the tooling is supposed to be used :-)
    Coated carbide inserts - coating the gold coloured one - a Ti nitride(?) >>> coating - for this steel.

    Pushing it harder and harder. As I once offended Jim a little (sorry
    Jim) over... time is money. Even if you are doing something for fun,
    favor, self... time is still your most valuable nonrenewable resource.

    I needed to make another batch of stainless mold cores today. (Stock
    design that uses upto nine (9) 1.5in diameter cores to varY the size of
    the casting. That's 18 cuts to true them up after they come off the saw.

    My new inserts arrived a few days ago ago, but I wantedif I could bump
    up the speed a bit with that little hobby lathe size insert. I had been
    using at at 300 RPM in low gear. That's a starting SFM of 117 if I have
    done the math right. I am sure there are folks pushing big turning
    centers orders of magnitude faster, but this is after all only a bigger
    import lathe. Its still an import lathe, and while its relatively
    heavy, its light for its size.

    Of course the SFM drops as the diameter is reduced. Maybe I could go
    faster if I cranked up the speed as I reduced the diameter, but this is
    a single phase gear head lathe. The motor just turns one speed. The
    time to stop it and change gears would eat up any time savings.

    Just for the heck of it I decided to see how much faster I could start.
    At 460 RPM the insert was still doing fine. Still using the same insert
    I used when I started this thread. I don't mean the same type. I mean
    the same insert. That means the insert was hitting the outside of the
    stock at 180 SFM. The number doesn't sound much bigger, but the part
    time was definitely faster.

    A couple ends with an intact insert at that speed and I decided to try
    the last couple parts at 755 RPM. 296 SFM. That was significantly
    faster. Part time was a lot shorter, and the insert still looks like
    when I started. (I'll look at under magnification later) It wasn't so
    fast that I had any issue keeping up, but it was fast enough I couldn't
    do anything else, like move the stock in the saw to cut the next rough
    blank.

    Now that I have spares I think next time I cut a batch of these cores I
    am going to push it until I chip an insert to see just what they will do.

    Please bare in mind that these are relatively light cuts. The blanks
    come off the saw at about 1.4" to 1.41" and get trued to 1.375".

    Interesting thread Bob, thanks, is this example the type of tool you are talking about? Never come across the diamond tipped versions of inserts
    but my original machining in industry experience was in the 1960's! Only hobby level now.. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115334715488?_nkw=diamond+inserts+carbide+lathe&itmmeta=01J5Q723XNA0GREWTN8RFZEQK2&hash=item1ada7c1860:g:YyUAAOSwUtJiUKWN&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKnC8gu8jBQODZUzjY6nfSpuZas%
    2FJzGcWIYLgG5EPfxVgG0wH1c4QdrYrUHqD4z98NSE8atbz28SHAAsTTB%2FvXsdw1KSXcN7%2Bx6cwyg%2FcKXwvDq3eEqXZbpx%2Bzxtc0f0%2Fp0BsyoIUtnlZlJQI86p6TyhETkaZsGuuwYw1Ayo2CHAORe6WE1WiaDElO8xogeQY1mItmsxVxjRLhavW15vEW5hMGkyR8srWzmxrGq4dX%2B9yZ23zhsDDiiDdifsQ%2Bk8r7IRPefZ9T%
    2FppdLbpKF%2FwpjM%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_S-iOetZA
    It says for non ferrous but you are using on stainless without any red
    spark? Can they be touched up if/when the edge goes? I know its only a single but looks uncheap to me! C+

    If you read Bob's post 30/7/2024 he clarifies he's not talking about
    diamond tipped inserts but diamond shaped rhombic inserts.

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    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Peter Fairbrother@21:1/5 to Bob La Londe on Tue Aug 20 17:40:13 2024
    On 19/08/2024 19:21, Bob La Londe wrote:
    On 8/19/2024 11:15 AM, Bob La Londe wrote:
    On 8/19/2024 4:47 AM, Snag wrote:

       I've been using a lot of carbide tooling on my 10" Logan since I
    built the QCTP ... but I'm not getting rid of the lantern toolpost
    and HSS stuff because thewe are just some things it works better on .


    There is certainly something to be said for being able to freehand
    grind a specialty HSS tool, but for the most part I just put them in
    tool holders for my QCTP.


    I suppose a lantern tool post "might" be able to hold a smaller scrap of
    HSS, but to really get the most out of your HSS a tangential holder
    might be the way to go.


    I bought a couple dozen HSS blanks, 10x10x100mm, maybe 20 years ago, and
    still have a few unused ones, and several with cutting ends which I
    don't use which could be reground if needed. No need to fiddle about
    with scraps of HSS, though I do have a few home-made toolholders, mostly
    of the weird and wonderful kind, for them when needed.

    For smaller machines I make my toolholders/toolposts, one for each tool,
    from a 50x50x30mm [18] block of mild steel. I mill a ~14mm slot on one
    edge, then drill and tap a couple of M5 or so holes into it to hold the
    tool in place. Then I drill a hole for the toolpost stud.

    Add a couple screws, put in place on the rest with the tool, then shim
    to center and tighten. Then you can change tool-plus-toolpost just using
    the toolpost handle, and it is a much firmer hold than any other
    toolpost I have come across.



    Ketan (of Arceurotrade) once quite unwarrantedly called me a Hell's
    Angel for the way I "brutalise" that minilathe (which is still running
    well 20 years on, though it has had a bearing change. And a main spindle
    change too, bent it somehow. Motor electronics replaced [47]. Hmm maybe
    that comment wasn't so far off...

    I don't do a lot of bigger stuff, but I do use harder-to-machine
    materials like inconel, monel, stainless, copper, titanium, hastelloy
    (ouch) etc.



    Also alumina and other ceramics - for which I use the nearly-cheapest
    diamond tooling, like drills, hole saws, cutting disks, to get back a
    little towards the title of this thread. Keep them wet, underwater if
    possible, take your time, be firm but not hard, and they cut like a
    knife through butter, albeit a lot slower. Accurate on the second cut,
    and the finish is lovely.

    I have also used these on hastelloy, which I couldn't get to cut nicely
    even with CBN inserts. A dremel in the toolpost is handy. Cheap diamond
    tools are exactly that, cheap. They don't last that long, perhaps less
    on steel [99], but if the alternative is waaay expensive or unavailable ..

    I never use so-called machinable ceramics, far too expensive for zero
    gain. If machining ceramics, or using diamond tooling, don't forget to
    cover all slides and clean the machine immediately, as the dust will
    kill accuracy.


    Peter Fairbrother

    Chester minilathe
    2x Myford ML10
    Myford ML3 extra looong bed
    Boxford AUD
    home-made CNC lathe
    7 BCAs, one CNC'd
    Seig X3 mill




    [19] 25mm sometimes, but 30mm is better, sometimes 25mm isn't enough.

    [49] to repair the electronics on a single=phase brushed DC minilathe or minimill motor, don't bother with the kblc board if fitted, it is a POS.
    Chuck it. A cheap chinese 180V DC controller from Ebay will do the job,
    and if it breaks throw it away and buy another. I was doubtful and
    bought a spare, still have it about 15 years later.


    [99] the diamonds come off before they dissolve in the steel. If you are
    using the expensive brazed ones it might be a problem

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  • From Peter Fairbrother@21:1/5 to All on Tue Aug 20 18:17:05 2024
    On 20/08/2024 07:50, Charlie+ wrote:

    [...]
    Only hobby level now.. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115334715488?_nkw=diamond+inserts+carbide+lathe&itmmeta=01J5Q723XNA0GREWTN8RFZEQK2&hash=item1ada7c1860:g:YyUAAOSwUtJiUKWN&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKnC8gu8jBQODZUzjY6nfSpuZas%
    2FJzGcWIYLgG5EPfxVgG0wH1c4QdrYrUHqD4z98NSE8atbz28SHAAsTTB%2FvXsdw1KSXcN7%2Bx6cwyg%2FcKXwvDq3eEqXZbpx%2Bzxtc0f0%2Fp0BsyoIUtnlZlJQI86p6TyhETkaZsGuuwYw1Ayo2CHAORe6WE1WiaDElO8xogeQY1mItmsxVxjRLhavW15vEW5hMGkyR8srWzmxrGq4dX%2B9yZ23zhsDDiiDdifsQ%2Bk8r7IRPefZ9T%
    2FppdLbpKF%2FwpjM%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_S-iOetZA

    Those are PCD polycrystalline diamond tipped inserts. Diamond crystals
    in a cobalt alloy matrix. For very hard materials sometimes, but far
    more often for extreme wear resistance.

    It says for non ferrous [..]
    The carbon in the diamond dissolves in iron and steel (and nickel
    alloys), so they don't last long on steel. You can use CBN cubic boron
    nitride on steel etc for longer life, about the same price.

    Hobby level chaps (and most small-batch pros, indeed most pros) should generally stick to HSS or carbide, unless they are doing something unusual.

    Can they be touched up if/when the edge goes?

    No. Carbide inserts can sometimes be touched up with diamond (though
    it's usually not worth doing unless you want something special), but not
    PCD or CBN.

    I know its only a single but looks uncheap to me! C+

    Last time I bought any they were £20-odd each, and that was years ago.


    Peter Fairbrother

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  • From Bob La Londe@21:1/5 to Jim Wilkins on Tue Aug 20 11:29:28 2024
    On 8/19/2024 4:44 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
    "Bob La Londe"  wrote in message news:va0hrc$321n0$1@dont-email.me...

    I have freehand ground a lot of things, and I can probably make an
    adequate threading cutter, but a simple miter gage and slot in a tool
    rest makes it achievable for nearly anybody.  Even a puttering geezer.
    Bob La Londe
    --------------------------------------
    So does a Univise on a surface grinder, when I want to be fussy. I
    haven't seen a Baldor carbide grinder for less than $600.


    Diamond wheels are available for a lot of things. Yes, you can freehand
    grind on a diamond wheel. A buddy of mine sells tungsten grinding kits
    for various grinders that include adapters, and a cheap diamond coated
    wheel he buys in bulk from China. He sells them to welders for shaping tungsten electrodes. I have one of his cheap wheels and I sometimes use
    it to rough finish the edge on a tool before honing on a bench stone or
    lapping stick.

    I have a whole bucket (smallish) of broken and worn out carbide mills I
    save for making specialty tools. When I needed a special 7 degree
    dovetail cutter to make a tool holder I ground one of an old carbide end
    mill. Okay. I cheated. I cut the 7 degree cutting edge on a tool and
    cutter grinder with a diamond wheel, but other edges and clearances I
    just ground freehand.


    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff


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  • From Bob La Londe@21:1/5 to David Billington on Tue Aug 20 11:23:19 2024
    On 8/20/2024 8:48 AM, David Billington wrote:
    On 20/08/2024 07:50, Charlie+ wrote:
    On Sun, 18 Aug 2024 17:02:31 -0700, Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> wrote
    as underneath :

    On 7/30/2024 2:44 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
    Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> writes:

    On 7/29/2024 11:38 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
    I heard diamond
    * works for Ali because it has no solubility for Carbon
    * does not work for irons/steels because the hard tool
    "disappears" by
         solution into the iron
    ?
    My apologies.  I didn't at all mean something like a PVD diamond
    coating.  DCMT is a diamond shaped insert.  Typically your find them >>>>> coated with TiN, uncoated, and occasionally with TiAlN or AlTiN
    coatings.  My point was these small geometry inserts that work so well >>>>> in under power under-rigid machines like the typical import 7-8 by
    10-16 mini lathe also work on a heavier machine.  If the big boy
    inserts don't work these still do.  In this case I was cutting 304
    stainless steel. It improved the finish, didn't require sharpening,
    had less heat input, and did the job much faster net elapsed time.

    FYI:  I do a fair amount of aluminum cutting, and generally I've found >>>>> bright sharp uncoated tools do the best job and have the best material >>>>> removal rate for me and leave a good finish.  Diamond was popular when >>>>> I first started cutting aluminum on machine tools, and more recently >>>>> ZrN has become the popular coating.  I've tried them and the simple >>>>> fact is a coated tool isn't as sharp.  They might work better for
    larger tools on larger machines, but on middle weight machines with
    limited horsepower (5 or less) a bright sharp uncoated tool works best >>>>> for me. For high speed flood coolant makes the tool last without chip >>>>> welding, but coatings do not.  On smaller tools horsepower isn't even >>>>> a factor as the tool can't take it anyway.


    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff
    Thx for this detail.
    Interesting yes certainly.
    Sorry "got the wrong end of the stick".

    I used cutting insert tooling - aagh - 30 years ago.
    Vertical milling shell-cutter on steel.
    Did well - they'd never seen steel chip ejection like a chain-saw
    cutting timber.  Took a visit from the rep. who explained this is how >>>> the tooling is supposed to be used :-)
    Coated carbide inserts - coating the gold coloured one - a Ti
    nitride(?)
    coating - for this steel.

    Pushing it harder and harder.  As I once offended Jim a little (sorry
    Jim) over... time is money.  Even if you are doing something for fun,
    favor, self... time is still your most valuable nonrenewable resource.

    I needed to make another batch of stainless mold cores today.  (Stock
    design that uses upto nine (9) 1.5in diameter cores to varY the size of
    the casting.  That's 18 cuts to true them up after they come off the
    saw.

    My new inserts arrived a few days ago ago, but I wantedif I could bump
    up the speed a bit with that little hobby lathe size insert.  I had been >>> using at at 300 RPM in low gear.  That's a starting SFM of 117 if I have >>> done the math right.  I am sure there are folks pushing big turning
    centers orders of magnitude faster, but this is after all only a bigger
    import lathe.  Its still an import lathe, and while its relatively
    heavy, its light for its size.

    Of course the SFM drops as the diameter is reduced.  Maybe I could go
    faster if I cranked up the speed as I reduced the diameter, but this is
    a single phase gear head lathe.  The motor just turns one speed.  The
    time to stop it and change gears would eat up any time savings.

    Just for the heck of it I decided to see how much faster I could start.
    At 460 RPM the insert was still doing fine.  Still using the same insert >>> I used when I started this thread.  I don't mean the same type.  I mean >>> the same insert.  That means the insert was hitting the outside of the
    stock at 180 SFM.  The number doesn't sound much bigger, but the part
    time was definitely faster.

    A couple ends with an intact insert at that speed and I decided to try
    the last couple parts at 755 RPM.  296 SFM.  That was significantly
    faster.  Part time was a lot shorter, and the insert still looks like
    when I started.  (I'll look at under magnification later)  It wasn't so >>> fast that I had any issue keeping up, but it was fast enough I couldn't
    do anything else, like move the stock in the saw to cut the next rough
    blank.

    Now that I have spares I think next time I cut a batch of these cores I
    am going to push it until I chip an insert to see just what they will
    do.

    Please bare in mind that these are relatively light cuts.  The blanks
    come off the saw at about 1.4" to 1.41" and get trued to 1.375".

    Interesting thread Bob, thanks, is this example the type of tool you are
    talking about? Never come across the diamond tipped versions of inserts
    but my original machining in industry experience was in the 1960's! Only
    hobby level now..
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115334715488?_nkw=diamond+inserts+carbide+lathe&itmmeta=01J5Q723XNA0GREWTN8RFZEQK2&hash=item1ada7c1860:g:YyUAAOSwUtJiUKWN&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKnC8gu8jBQODZUzjY6nfSpuZas%
    2FJzGcWIYLgG5EPfxVgG0wH1c4QdrYrUHqD4z98NSE8atbz28SHAAsTTB%2FvXsdw1KSXcN7%2Bx6cwyg%2FcKXwvDq3eEqXZbpx%2Bzxtc0f0%2Fp0BsyoIUtnlZlJQI86p6TyhETkaZsGuuwYw1Ayo2CHAORe6WE1WiaDElO8xogeQY1mItmsxVxjRLhavW15vEW5hMGkyR8srWzmxrGq4dX%2B9yZ23zhsDDiiDdifsQ%2Bk8r7IRPefZ9T%
    2FppdLbpKF%2FwpjM%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_S-iOetZA
    It says for non ferrous but you are using on stainless without any red
    spark? Can they be touched up if/when the edge goes?  I know its only a
    single but looks uncheap to me!  C+

    If you read Bob's post 30/7/2024 he clarifies he's not talking about
    diamond tipped inserts but diamond shaped rhombic inserts.



    That's true, but I did run across a reference (Stefan Gotteswinter video
    maybe) to an actual diamond attached to a tool. There are also coatings
    that are called diamond, although most are actually DLC "diamond like coatings."


    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff


    --
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  • From Peter Fairbrother@21:1/5 to Bob La Londe on Tue Aug 20 22:27:38 2024
    On 20/08/2024 19:23, Bob La Londe wrote:

    That's true, but I did run across a reference (Stefan Gotteswinter video maybe) to an actual diamond attached to a tool.

    PCD diamond turning inserts are actually quite common. They are mostly
    made from natural diamonds, sometimes synthetic. There is another kind
    whose name I have forgotten which is even more diamond-y, though still
    not a single diamond.


    PCD inserts (or better CBN ones if machining steels) made for aluminium
    can be of use to hobby people if careful; being sharper then ones made
    for harder stuff they will cut with less force, useful on smaller less
    powerful machines.

    Recommended only once you have learned how to use inserts without
    chipping them!



    SPD single point diamond turning tools (which are single diamonds) are
    often used in CNC machines for optical moulds and lenses. The finish is
    used as-is, no polishing!!!

    Sometimes used for high-accuracy machining of copper and copper alloys too.

    When air bearings aren't smooth enough ..

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tQd5RVCriI



    I have a 1/2 carat single diamond tool for truing grinding wheels. Cost
    about £!5 iirc, but that was a while ago. Hmm, still £14.99 on ebay.


    There are also coatings that are called diamond, although most are
    actually DLC "diamond like coatings."


    CVD chemical vapour deposition diamonds are frequently grown on tooling surfaces; they are real diamonds, though not single diamonds when grown
    on surfaces.

    They are sometimes made into blocks in a nickel or cobalt matrix, as
    found on circular saw blades and polishing disks, though often natural
    diamonds are cheaper.



    Peter Fairbrother

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  • From Charlie+@21:1/5 to All on Wed Aug 21 07:06:50 2024
    On Tue, 20 Aug 2024 16:48:55 +0100, David Billington <djb@invalid.com>
    wrote as underneath :

    On 20/08/2024 07:50, Charlie+ wrote:
    On Sun, 18 Aug 2024 17:02:31 -0700, Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> wrote
    as underneath :

    On 7/30/2024 2:44 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
    Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> writes:

    On 7/29/2024 11:38 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
    I heard diamond
    * works for Ali because it has no solubility for Carbon
    * does not work for irons/steels because the hard tool "disappears" by >>>>>> solution into the iron
    ?
    My apologies. I didn't at all mean something like a PVD diamond
    coating. DCMT is a diamond shaped insert. Typically your find them >>>>> coated with TiN, uncoated, and occasionally with TiAlN or AlTiN
    coatings. My point was these small geometry inserts that work so well >>>>> in under power under-rigid machines like the typical import 7-8 by
    10-16 mini lathe also work on a heavier machine. If the big boy
    inserts don't work these still do. In this case I was cutting 304
    stainless steel. It improved the finish, didn't require sharpening,
    had less heat input, and did the job much faster net elapsed time.

    FYI: I do a fair amount of aluminum cutting, and generally I've found >>>>> bright sharp uncoated tools do the best job and have the best material >>>>> removal rate for me and leave a good finish. Diamond was popular when >>>>> I first started cutting aluminum on machine tools, and more recently >>>>> ZrN has become the popular coating. I've tried them and the simple
    fact is a coated tool isn't as sharp. They might work better for
    larger tools on larger machines, but on middle weight machines with
    limited horsepower (5 or less) a bright sharp uncoated tool works best >>>>> for me. For high speed flood coolant makes the tool last without chip >>>>> welding, but coatings do not. On smaller tools horsepower isn't even >>>>> a factor as the tool can't take it anyway.


    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff
    Thx for this detail.
    Interesting yes certainly.
    Sorry "got the wrong end of the stick".

    I used cutting insert tooling - aagh - 30 years ago.
    Vertical milling shell-cutter on steel.
    Did well - they'd never seen steel chip ejection like a chain-saw
    cutting timber. Took a visit from the rep. who explained this is how
    the tooling is supposed to be used :-)
    Coated carbide inserts - coating the gold coloured one - a Ti nitride(?) >>>> coating - for this steel.

    Pushing it harder and harder. As I once offended Jim a little (sorry
    Jim) over... time is money. Even if you are doing something for fun,
    favor, self... time is still your most valuable nonrenewable resource.

    I needed to make another batch of stainless mold cores today. (Stock
    design that uses upto nine (9) 1.5in diameter cores to varY the size of
    the casting. That's 18 cuts to true them up after they come off the saw. >>>
    My new inserts arrived a few days ago ago, but I wantedif I could bump
    up the speed a bit with that little hobby lathe size insert. I had been >>> using at at 300 RPM in low gear. That's a starting SFM of 117 if I have >>> done the math right. I am sure there are folks pushing big turning
    centers orders of magnitude faster, but this is after all only a bigger
    import lathe. Its still an import lathe, and while its relatively
    heavy, its light for its size.

    Of course the SFM drops as the diameter is reduced. Maybe I could go
    faster if I cranked up the speed as I reduced the diameter, but this is
    a single phase gear head lathe. The motor just turns one speed. The
    time to stop it and change gears would eat up any time savings.

    Just for the heck of it I decided to see how much faster I could start.
    At 460 RPM the insert was still doing fine. Still using the same insert >>> I used when I started this thread. I don't mean the same type. I mean
    the same insert. That means the insert was hitting the outside of the
    stock at 180 SFM. The number doesn't sound much bigger, but the part
    time was definitely faster.

    A couple ends with an intact insert at that speed and I decided to try
    the last couple parts at 755 RPM. 296 SFM. That was significantly
    faster. Part time was a lot shorter, and the insert still looks like
    when I started. (I'll look at under magnification later) It wasn't so
    fast that I had any issue keeping up, but it was fast enough I couldn't
    do anything else, like move the stock in the saw to cut the next rough
    blank.

    Now that I have spares I think next time I cut a batch of these cores I
    am going to push it until I chip an insert to see just what they will do. >>>
    Please bare in mind that these are relatively light cuts. The blanks
    come off the saw at about 1.4" to 1.41" and get trued to 1.375".

    Interesting thread Bob, thanks, is this example the type of tool you are
    talking about? Never come across the diamond tipped versions of inserts
    but my original machining in industry experience was in the 1960's! Only
    hobby level now..
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115334715488?_nkw=diamond+inserts+carbide+lathe&itmmeta=01J5Q723XNA0GREWTN8RFZEQK2&hash=item1ada7c1860:g:YyUAAOSwUtJiUKWN&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKnC8gu8jBQODZUzjY6nfSpuZas%
    2FJzGcWIYLgG5EPfxVgG0wH1c4QdrYrUHqD4z98NSE8atbz28SHAAsTTB%2FvXsdw1KSXcN7%2Bx6cwyg%2FcKXwvDq3eEqXZbpx%2Bzxtc0f0%2Fp0BsyoIUtnlZlJQI86p6TyhETkaZsGuuwYw1Ayo2CHAORe6WE1WiaDElO8xogeQY1mItmsxVxjRLhavW15vEW5hMGkyR8srWzmxrGq4dX%2B9yZ23zhsDDiiDdifsQ%2Bk8r7IRPefZ9T%
    2FppdLbpKF%2FwpjM%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_S-iOetZA
    It says for non ferrous but you are using on stainless without any red
    spark? Can they be touched up if/when the edge goes? I know its only a
    single but looks uncheap to me! C+

    If you read Bob's post 30/7/2024 he clarifies he's not talking about
    diamond tipped inserts but diamond shaped rhombic inserts.

    Thanks David, I re-read that post but have never come across the inserts
    he is talking about so I was looking for a link to clarify myself! C+

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  • From Charlie+@21:1/5 to All on Wed Aug 21 07:19:20 2024
    On Tue, 20 Aug 2024 18:17:05 +0100, Peter Fairbrother <peter@tsto.co.uk>
    wrote as underneath :

    On 20/08/2024 07:50, Charlie+ wrote:

    [...]
    Only hobby level now..
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115334715488?_nkw=diamond+inserts+carbide+lathe&itmmeta=01J5Q723XNA0GREWTN8RFZEQK2&hash=item1ada7c1860:g:YyUAAOSwUtJiUKWN&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKnC8gu8jBQODZUzjY6nfSpuZas%
    2FJzGcWIYLgG5EPfxVgG0wH1c4QdrYrUHqD4z98NSE8atbz28SHAAsTTB%2FvXsdw1KSXcN7%2Bx6cwyg%2FcKXwvDq3eEqXZbpx%2Bzxtc0f0%2Fp0BsyoIUtnlZlJQI86p6TyhETkaZsGuuwYw1Ayo2CHAORe6WE1WiaDElO8xogeQY1mItmsxVxjRLhavW15vEW5hMGkyR8srWzmxrGq4dX%2B9yZ23zhsDDiiDdifsQ%2Bk8r7IRPefZ9T%
    2FppdLbpKF%2FwpjM%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_S-iOetZA

    Those are PCD polycrystalline diamond tipped inserts. Diamond crystals
    in a cobalt alloy matrix. For very hard materials sometimes, but far
    more often for extreme wear resistance.

    It says for non ferrous [..]
    The carbon in the diamond dissolves in iron and steel (and nickel
    alloys), so they don't last long on steel. You can use CBN cubic boron >nitride on steel etc for longer life, about the same price.

    Hobby level chaps (and most small-batch pros, indeed most pros) should >generally stick to HSS or carbide, unless they are doing something unusual.

    Can they be touched up if/when the edge goes?

    No. Carbide inserts can sometimes be touched up with diamond (though
    it's usually not worth doing unless you want something special), but not
    PCD or CBN.

    I know its only a single but looks uncheap to me! C+

    Last time I bought any they were ú20-odd each, and that was years ago.


    Peter Fairbrother

    Thanks Peter for all the detail, I'm better informed now, aprecciated.
    C+

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