Ball turners.

[Tony HoggoParticipant @tonyhoggo42183]

I made these ball turners a few years ago, just a project, had no real use for them, but they have come in handy a few times. I wanted one I could mount in the tool post and be used either in front of or behind the chuck. The first welded up one was a trial to see how well it worked, it worked extremely well, so, I made a few design changes and machined up the final. These were made on the lathe as I didn't have a mill at the time.

[Tony HoggoParticipant @tonyhoggo42183]

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

If simple balls are to be turned they are ok but if accurate balls Arte needed say for trackrod ends etc a tool slide needs to be added

[vic neweyParticipant @vicnewey60017]

My 1895 vintage lathe has a powered ball turner, it can be set to turn ovals, spheres and even a ball in the middle of a length of metal bar. Here is a 90 second video powered ball turner

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I do like that, Vic !

MichaelG.

[Chris CrewParticipant @chriscrew66644]

I made the Radford ball turner, this design was later improved by GHT, I believe. It must rotate at exactly the centre-height of the lathe otherwise you just produce eggs and acorns so the body is best bored in the lathe upon which it is to be used. The device works well enough for 'cosmetic' balls for handles etc. but when I produced the balls for the universal joints on the Radford worm-hobbing attachment as recommended by the designer, I found I had to 'ease' the balls slightly because of a couple of tight spots. Obviously, the balls were not perfectly spherical although to the naked-eye they looked fine.

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

I made this one a few years ago. Specifically for the Myford super 7 . It fits in place of the compound & then locks with the wedges. I also made it so the cutting tip can be rotated. I noticed a lot I had seen would not get right into the root where the mandrel holds it in the chuck.

Steve.

[Tony HoggoParticipant @tonyhoggo42183]

Posted by bernard towers on 07/08/2023 20:25:54:

If simple balls are to be turned they are ok but if accurate balls Arte needed say for trackrod ends etc a tool slide needs to be added

Bully for you. Mine does what I want it to, that's all that matters to me..

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

OOps didn’t mean to offend!

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

OOps didn’t mean to offend!

[Tony HoggoParticipant @tonyhoggo42183]

Not offended, just surprised someone would make such a silly comment, takes all types I guess.

Edited By Tony Hoggo on 08/08/2023 10:31:46

[RobinParticipant @robin]

Posted by vic newey on 07/08/2023 20:46:25:

My 1895 vintage lathe has a powered ball turner, it can be set to turn ovals, spheres and even a ball in the middle of a length of metal bar. Here is a 90 second video powered ball turner

Exquisite

There is a Holtzapffel lathe, with lots of the kit, up on that auction site. Made for a Victorian gentleman hobbyist wood turner, but who would want it now you can't get the ivory?

Robin

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

For a lot of ball turning the diameter can be that of the material, (Used or turned to size ) .

What is silly about striving for, or needing, accuracy?

As ever, the importance is what meets your particular need.

"One man's meat…" etc

We need tolerances on here as well as on drawings

Howard

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

Posted by vic newey on 07/08/2023 20:46:25:

My 1895 vintage lathe has a powered ball turner, it can be set to turn ovals, spheres and even a ball in the middle of a length of metal bar. Here is a 90 second video powered ball turner

Just had a watch of some of your video's. A great old lathe you have there. Plus a ingenious ball turner.

Steve.

[Tony HoggoParticipant @tonyhoggo42183]

Posted by Howard Lewis on 08/08/2023 12:01

As ever, the importance is what meets your particular need.

Ring a bell?

I can get down to 0.01mm, as fine as my micrometer will measure, I don't have a need to measure finer than that, that';s accurate enough for me, and I don't use a tool slide just a tool post.

 

Edited By Tony Hoggo on 08/08/2023 12:13:51

[vic neweyParticipant @vicnewey60017]

Posted by Steviegtr on 08/08/2023 12:04:04:

Posted by vic newey on 07/08/2023 20:46:25:

My 1895 vintage lathe has a powered ball turner, it can be set to turn ovals, spheres and even a ball in the middle of a length of metal bar. Here is a 90 second video powered ball turner

Just had a watch of some of your video's. A great old lathe you have there. Plus a ingenious ball turner.

Steve.

——————–

It is an interesting machine for sure, the ball turning can be set fast or slow via settings of worms and wheels etc. and a superfine mirror finish is possible.

I have experimented turning a ball in the middle of a length of metal with an extreme taper either side for which the headstock was swivelled over 7 degrees for this, it can actually swivel 20 degrees. I must experiment more

 

Edited By vic newey on 08/08/2023 12:29:33

[Phil PParticipant @philp]

Posted by bernard towers on 07/08/2023 20:25:54:

If simple balls are to be turned they are ok but if accurate balls Arte needed say for trackrod ends etc a tool slide needs to be added

Bernard

Despite the OP not grasping the importance of your statement re the tool slide, I think your design looks very functional and controllable on the lathe.

Phil

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Thanks for that Phil was just trying to get across the point of looks against accuracy , ones good for one job the other is needed for the other

[Dave WoottonParticipant @davewootton]

That's a lovely old lathe Vic, even sounds wonderful when running, Theraputic like my shaper. I've seen Pittler lathes advertised before without realising how versatile and clever they were. Never stop learning. Very interesting video's thanks for posting the link.

Dave

[vic neweyParticipant @vicnewey60017]

Posted by Dave Wootton on 08/08/2023 16:09:53:

That's a lovely old lathe Vic, even sounds wonderful when running, Theraputic like my shaper. I've seen Pittler lathes advertised before without realising how versatile and clever they were. Never stop learning. Very interesting video's thanks for posting the link.

Dave

———————-

I like the noise old machines make as well Dave, the belt clicks because I haven't scarfed the joint but I like it, also noise comes from the big heavy countershaft fitted up above as well as the various gears and spur wheels!

Vic

[Tony HoggoParticipant @tonyhoggo42183]

A lesson on how to hijack a post , well done. You're a legend – in your own mind at least.

[Kiwi BlokeParticipant @kiwibloke62605]

I don't think a lesson in bad manners is an appropriate use of this forum.

[Tony HoggoParticipant @tonyhoggo42183]

Posted by Kiwi Bloke on 09/08/2023 06:59:16:

I don't think a lesson in bad manners is an appropriate use of this forum.

So behave yourself, don't show your bad manners, didn't your folks teach you anything? Mine taught me manners, they also taught me that manners go out the window when suffering fools and hypocrites!

[vic neweyParticipant @vicnewey60017]

Posted by Tony Hoggo on 09/08/2023 07:36:30:

Posted by Kiwi Bloke on 09/08/2023 06:59:16:

I don't think a lesson in bad manners is an appropriate use of this forum.

 

So behave yourself, don't show your bad manners, didn't your folks teach you anything? Mine taught me manners, they also taught me that manners go out the window when suffering fools and hypocrites!

 

————————————–

No, it's quite clear that "your folks" taught you how to be rude and condescending and trying to belittle other peoples comments.

This forum is a friendly group so take a chill pill before you blow a gasket.

 

Edited By vic newey on 09/08/2023 10:07:57

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Ahem! Coughs politely. Now then, gentlemen…

I do like that worm-drive tool – gives accuracy and good looks!

If a lever-action ball-turner produces eggs and acorns when not centred accurately, might that be an advantage in some work, by appropriate setting?

.

(There is, by the way, a method for milling ball-ends, using a boring-head or fly-cutter and rotating the work on a rotary-table or dividing-head with its axis suitably inclined on a plane parallel to the machine table; but I don't know the necessary geometry for the required diameter and angular extent.)

[Author]

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