Slotting Tool Design

[IanHParticipant @ianh]

Advice on design

[IanHParticipant @ianh]

Hi,

 

Some few years ago I bought a slotting attachment to hang off the back of my Bridgeport. I  now find myself wanting to create some 3/16″ and 1/4″ keyways in 1″ and 1 1/4″ bore holes in EN24 and am astruggling a bit with the design of the tool/tool holder. The slotting head has a 0.625″ socket for the tool holder to sit in. Can anyone provide a sketch of something that will work?

 

I am anticipating using 1/4″ square HSS tool bits for the 1/4″ keyway and had thought of clamping it horizontally in the bottom of the tool holder. My first attempt has not been rigid enough allowing the tool to dig in and jam everything up. I can’t find any pictures of commercial designs so thought I would turn to the forum.

 

Thanks in anticipation

 

Ian 

[VersabossParticipant @versaboss]

Jan, afaik slotting tools usually look a bit similar as parting off tools for a lathe, but with a strong shaft further up. As in shapers tools with inserts from square HSS work well, I don’t see why that should not work in your case. Bur the toolbit should protrude not more than necessary!

I made some small keyways in the lathe with such tooling (reciprocating the screw-less topslide with a lever, as described in umpteen classical ME books.

Greetings, Hansrudolf

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

have a look at forum – Workshop tools and tooling >  Making Square Holes

 

Bob

[IanHParticipant @ianh]

Thanks for this. On an earlier job I managed the keyways on the lathe racking the saddle back and forth with a home made tool holder with a piece of 1/4″ sq HSS tool. This approach is just like the text books suggest.

 

I used this same tool in the slotting head and found that it tended to be pushed away from the cut until it finally bit, then at that point it dug in. I am now making a more robust version of the tool and if it works out I will post a picture here so you can see what it looks like.

 

Thanks

Ian

Edited By IanH on 23/06/2010 17:52:08

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Yep,  I had a similar problem,  so I popped some shim behind the tool to stop it deflecting away from the cutting face, slipping in extra shim as the depth of cut increased. – Worked for me.

[IanHParticipant @ianh]

Hi,

 

Cooking on gas now. Here is a photo of the tool.

Tool body maximum diameter to fit into the hole with just enough space for the cutter to project – tool body machined out of EN16 for toughness, bottom face and slot for tool steel angled at 8 degrees giving “top rake” with a chunky cap to hold it all together with 2 M5 cap heads. Easy to grind – just provide a bit of “front” clearance on the vertical face then off you go. FInal step was to tighten up the belt on the slotting head so all the power of the motor was available.

Just need to make another now for the 3/16″ slot

Thanks for all the ideas

Ian

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