Thanks: 0
Likes: 4
Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 15 of 22
Thread: New owner of AL960 B and HM-46
-
2nd May 2014, 05:32 PM #1Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2014
- Location
- Sydney
- Age
- 47
- Posts
- 80
New owner of AL960 B and HM-46
Hi guys,
I have finally taken the plunge and purchase new a AL-960B and HM-46.
Now the fun begins. I was hoping some more experienced guys could answer a few questions to help me get started. The HM-46 has a dovetail column and can be adjusted 45 degrees each way.
I want to make sure the Mill is cutting perfectly Perpendicular to the bed. What is a good way to set this up? for that matter what is a good way to be sure I have angles set perfectly without trusting the degree plate on the head. It does come with a little electronic digital bevel box but I'm not convinced this is perfectly accurate.
Also I am intending to do some metric thread cutting on the lathe. Is it a complicated process to change gears to allow this. What metric pitchs can be cut with the lathe as it comes from the factory?
Many Thanks Max
-
2nd May 2014, 07:40 PM #2Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2009
- Location
- Horsham
- Posts
- 86
Hi Max,
For the mill from memory this video gives a fairly in depth explanation on how to do it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfANyiS8Hs4
Instead of the bars some people use the outer ring of a large bearing like this
http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/w...ouse/tram1.jpg
or there are special tools as well like this
https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/i...MdrmQgYo3pFnvi
First 2 ways would be the cheapest.
Not sure on your lathe. I have trouble working my own
Cheers
Jayson.
-
2nd May 2014, 07:50 PM #3GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Oct 2010
- Location
- melbourne, laverton
- Posts
- 1,443
-
2nd May 2014, 08:03 PM #4
Threading
Hi Max
Re: threading if you are beginning from absolute zero , I suggest the most important thing to remember is to be patient . Don't rush things , a step at a time is best . It can be a slow learning curve , but this is fine because you will learn at your own pace . Mistakes will happen , expect them . Sometimes you will fell like throwing in the towel, but one day, it will seem so easy and you will be a expert . Mike
-
2nd May 2014, 08:04 PM #5
-
2nd May 2014, 08:45 PM #6GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Oct 2010
- Location
- melbourne, laverton
- Posts
- 1,443
funny
funny that as i typed that i thought i bet you spell it wrong. so i goggled it the way
i spell it and it seemed to ok. plus im not a snob about these things.
here is a link to a thread eles where about traming a hm45
http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/...p?f=43&t=89488
have fun
aaaron
-
2nd May 2014, 09:46 PM #7Distracted Member
- Join Date
- May 2010
- Location
- Lower Lakes SA
- Age
- 59
- Posts
- 2,556
The lathe should have come with all the necessary info for thread cutting, on plates on the headstock and/or in the instruction manual <chortle>.
-
4th May 2014, 02:31 AM #8Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2014
- Location
- Sydney
- Age
- 47
- Posts
- 80
Thanks guys for the info, I have done a lot of watching on youtube. After a few stuff ups. I can say I have successfully cut my first 2 threads a 1.25 and 1.5. I have tried them with nuts and they work. The first one was a bit tight so I had to cut down the diameter a touch and thread some more. Turned down some stainless bar to test them, That stuff is hard on cutting tools i imagine! I did have to change a gear from 40 to 32 which was very straight forward once i realised it meshes with the front gear not the rear I was getting or sorts of weird thread pitches.
I will watch the links when I have some time. I don't have a DTI atm moment but working on a number of tools and jigs for setup for the mill. I only have the basics atm to get me started.
Finding time will be the biggest issue having a 1 year old and keeping the misses happy as well
I wanted to buy second hand but didn't have enough knowledge so figured a safer bet to buy new and learn. certainly will have to do without some other toys for quite a while!
Cheers
-
4th May 2014, 07:00 AM #9Distracted Member
- Join Date
- May 2010
- Location
- Lower Lakes SA
- Age
- 59
- Posts
- 2,556
-
4th May 2014, 07:46 AM #10SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jan 2004
- Location
- Bellingen
- Posts
- 551
I bought a 960b and a hm48 about three yrs back when I moved to the farm. The manual for the lathe is a bit of a shocker!
I'm in the same boat as you Max. I have a 8month old Trade Assistant so I don't get a lot of shed time unless I'm fixing or making something for the farm.
Grizzly has a similar lathe with a manual online. Google their site for the G4002. I found it helpful as I upgraded it from a really nice 100yr old monarch lathe when I left Sydney.
-
4th May 2014, 10:50 AM #11SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jun 2011
- Location
- Australia east coast
- Age
- 71
- Posts
- 1,468
-
4th May 2014, 01:13 PM #12SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jan 2004
- Location
- Bellingen
- Posts
- 551
fair point PDW. I almost wrote that in!
It was a really beautiful machine. A little old in the tooth and a flat belt. It was the wrong machine to learn on although I was very gentle on it. It was a medium size machine with a lot of quirks that would suit someone that knew what they were doing.
I wanted to keep it as I knew I would have the room when I was on the farm. Their was a lot of time between pack and un pack and it was a heavy bugger. I was happy it went to someone that was planning on restoring it. To be honest, I would have had time to do it in about 30yrs....
I can pick up another oldie down the line when the time is right!
-
4th May 2014, 01:20 PM #13SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jan 2004
- Location
- Bellingen
- Posts
- 551
Oh and for the record, the 960 ain't a bad little lathe! It's miles ahead of the Chinese gear (hm48).It's no monarch but it goes just fine! For a farm/hobby tool!
Actually, the 48 is not that bad. You just need to finish it off with better bearings,fittings,wheels etc. i think I will be looking for a knee lift in a few yrs though and keep the 48 as fancy drill press with every bell and whistle!
-
4th May 2014, 01:58 PM #14Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2014
- Location
- Sydney
- Age
- 47
- Posts
- 80
Hi Ben,
Thanks for the tip on the Grizzly site. Although not exactly the same lathe it is similar and really has some good general set up info. A good reference to read.
I think any machining work is only as good as the operator and if you know your machine and its capability and tolerances then I'm sure some great work can be done. The 960 is a sturdy machine. The mechanical engineer at work has one and it gets used a lot and has never let him down so thats good enough for me
-
4th May 2014, 02:12 PM #15SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jun 2011
- Location
- Australia east coast
- Age
- 71
- Posts
- 1,468
I've always regarded the 960 lathe as the best of its type in that size range, myself. I lived near the Parramatta H&F store for a long time and regularly used to drop in, look at what they had and occasionally buy stuff.
My other favourite machine was the Dashin Studturn which was basically a copy of a Colchester and very nicely built.
PDW