Unless you have a lathe capable of taking heavy cuts you won't be able to push the tool to a llimit where 12 vs. 16 will be noticable. Also worth remembering that a 16mm holder may well take larger inserts than a 10 or 12mm holder which will cost more and if you are only using 1 or 2mm of the cutting edge the rest will be wasted money. What lathe do you have and what sort of work do you intend to do

The majority of my holders are 6 and 8mm with the exception of boring bars where the extra mass of a larger shank is needed due to reach so Ihave them upto 16mm and homemade even thicker.

J

Jason

Most of the tools take generic tips, so for instance a Glanze 10mm cutting tool I have uses a CCMT 06 tip, you can also use a CCGT 06 tip. The boring bars that I use also use the same CCMT / CCGT tip ( yes they are Glanze ). Glanze also use DCMT tips

I have used this web site to figure out what the letters and numbers actually mean **LINK** which has helped me understand what I am buying.

It is very easy to end up with a box full of tool holders needing different carbide tips ( which are not cheap items ), so I always ask what the tip code is before I buy. Gloster tooling is pretty ok as well, I have a couple of their holders and they have been good value for money and they use CCMT / DCMT tips

The other thing I figured out, after wrecking several tips, was setting tip height is more critical than with HSS, I typically run 0.05mm below centre line, but I know other people who have different views and will be screaming at the screen as they read this.

BTW I use an ML7

Edited By SteamGeek on 07/10/2013 13:02:57

Hi,

I am a bit late in replying but since I spent the time to type I'll post…. Jason I'll try and answer your question, I have dickson style QCTP made by Bison. It is for the T0 size holders. Part numbers as follows:

QCTP P/N 4414-62×51. There are 2 sides that can mount tool holders.. If I didn't already have it, I wouldn't go out and buy one of these see below for why.

Standard tool holder: 4494-62 N

Standard V tool holder: 4495-62 N

Parting off tool holder: : 4496-62

Morse taper (1) tool holder: 4497-62/1N

boring bar holder (metric) max Ø 19mm | 3/4"  4498-62

boring bar holder (metric) max Ø 25mm: 4499-62

There are various sleeves available for the Ø25mm boring bar holders, these reduce the internal diameter to 8,10,12,16,or 20mm respectively..

The prices are eye watering. I feel lucky in that I have enough standard holders for now. I don't have any of the Chinese clones, but I would be interested to learn about the quality and fit they have. The bisons seem (to a beginner) to be nicely made although not as nice as some older British made I have seen at dealers on older myford, harrison etc lathes. Also the system is not as quick as others to clamp and release due to the need for a spanner. I plan on modifying it to improve that.

I understand that this QCTP is now at leat one of the options Boxford supply as standard with their new lathes. Rotagrip online sell the bison items. I also understand that other vendors do so as well. The usual suspects sell the Chinese clones.

My tools are from Arrand. Usual disclaimer; I am no more or less than a happy customer. I try to support English made within reason where I can and funds allow. Arrand are an hours drive from where I used to live and also post for free on reasonable sized orders. Their turning (right and left hand) facing (right and left), boring and end mills tooling all use the same tips. Which are according to the catalogue:

A1 – multipurpose 0.015" | 0.4mm radius, ISO no TCMT 110204

A2 – steel 0.015" | 0.4mm radius, ISO no TCMT 110204

It seems sensible to assume there is some missing information form the Arrand catalogue to differentiate the 2 tip types. I'd be interested to learn what the full specification is.

Although the tips they supply are (from memory talking to Arrand so don't quote me) Sandvik or Widia depending on if it is what they call the A1 or A2 (not sure which is which.) The inserts are common to the lathe tools and also end mills. That saves me a fair bit and helps offset the cost of buying Arrand. Although Arrand are small enough to be VAT free which helps as well.

In due course I'll need to get a solution for thread cutting and specifically for 55 degree whitworth thread forms and would like an insert based parting off solution. Arrand's 60 degree triangle tips don't cover everything. I'm sure I could have chosen something better / more future proof / etc etc…. I would be improbably clever or lucky to have made all the right choices but as a beginner I found the whole world of indexable tip tooling a mine field. The articles in MEW back issues and searching this and other forums helped (I forget the issues) time will tell if I made the right decision but in the mean time I'm up and running in this wonderful hobby.

Regards,

Steve

Edited By SteveI on 07/10/2013 20:19:01

Edited By SteveI on 07/10/2013 20:25:23