Author Topic: Profiling/Contouring with the Lathe & Dremel  (Read 14603 times)

Offline 90LX_Notch

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Profiling/Contouring with the Lathe & Dremel
« on: July 26, 2012, 12:52:36 AM »
I originally posted this at the other site.

It's how I machined the bottom radius of the crankcase for my build of Gail Graham's Lobo Pup Twin.

The video description on YouTube describes what is going on.  It should be noted that the bulk of material was removed in the mill prior to this operation.  This is more of a finishing op.

The Dremel FexShaft is held in a tool block that was bored on center with the lathe.  I plan to post up some pictures of the the block in another thread.

Any questions just ask.


<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXw-VoGucOg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXw-VoGucOg</a>

Edit- I copied the description off of YouTube-

"This video shows a crankcase being machined on the lathe with a Dremel Flex Shaft. The crankcase is on an arbor and is being indexed by hand. The 1/8 endmill is set on center and is cutting on the tangent point of the radius. This was an experiment that worked out far better then I had hoped."

-Bob
« Last Edit: July 26, 2012, 12:57:31 AM by 90LX_Notch »
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chuck foster

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Re: Profiling/Contouring with the Lathe & Dremel
« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2012, 01:44:40 AM »
great one more thing i HAVE to remember  :facepalm:

really thanks bob that is a good one, and thanks for the video  :bandrock:

chuck

Offline KB

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Re: Profiling/Contouring with the Lathe & Dremel
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2012, 04:21:55 AM »

Wow, is that ever slick. Sounded really good too.

After roughing, did you make a few finishing passes?

Offline mklotz

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Re: Profiling/Contouring with the Lathe & Dremel
« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2012, 04:31:28 AM »
I've done a lot of this sort of incremental machining.  I like to refer to it as HAM - Human Assisted Machining.  :Jester:
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Troutsqueezer

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Re: Profiling/Contouring with the Lathe & Dremel
« Reply #4 on: July 26, 2012, 04:44:03 PM »
Here's another one of those "Why didn't I think of that?" threads. I'm constantly amazed at what I haven't thought of. Sometimes I think I could fill a book with what I don't know.

Marv, was that an emoticon you just used there?  :stir:

Offline mklotz

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Re: Profiling/Contouring with the Lathe & Dremel
« Reply #5 on: July 26, 2012, 05:09:09 PM »
Yes, Dennis, I broke down and used an emoticon.  Not just an emoticon, but an animated one - my personal bete noir.

I had just finished writing a long discourse on another subject and my word bank was empty so I had to resort to using one of the crutches for the inarticulate.  It still pains me.  I'm searching for my hair shirt as I write this.
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Offline AdeV

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Re: Profiling/Contouring with the Lathe & Dremel
« Reply #6 on: July 26, 2012, 05:40:13 PM »
I can't find any hair shirts, this being about the closest:

I reckon this one fits the bill better, based on your description: 
Cheers,
Ade
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Offline 90LX_Notch

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Re: Profiling/Contouring with the Lathe & Dremel
« Reply #7 on: July 26, 2012, 05:49:49 PM »
Kevin-

The video basically shows the finishing passes.  The bearings in the FlexShaft are less then desirable; so very light cuts must be taken to prevent chatter.  It's time consuming; but, it sure beats filing!   The trick is to scribe a line and rough to it as much as possible in the mill.  The Dremel basically replaces a file in smoothing/blending the profile. 

-Bob
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Offline Alan Haisley

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Re: Profiling/Contouring with the Lathe & Dremel
« Reply #8 on: September 29, 2012, 07:32:37 PM »
I did some similar profiling using a RT mounted vertically on a mill. Much the same process: the RT is vertical with its axis in line with the X axis. The end mill is set on the center line of the rotation and the majority of the shaping is done, leaving enough angle on each side to avoid undercutting. To finish up, the end mill is offset by its radius in Y. That allows the cutter to finish the 90 degree swing to one side without undercutting the part. Offset the end mill in the opposite direction and finish up the cut on the other side.
Of course if you are shaping to other than a circle this won't work.
Alan

Offline 90LX_Notch

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Re: Profiling/Contouring with the Lathe & Dremel
« Reply #9 on: September 29, 2012, 09:53:15 PM »
I don't have a RT; so this was the only method I could come up with for the bottom radius.  A RT is on my wishlist; it would make life easier.
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Offline steamer

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Re: Profiling/Contouring with the Lathe & Dremel
« Reply #10 on: September 30, 2012, 12:58:23 PM »
Nice Bob!     What other place? :NewBrain:
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Arbalest

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Re: Profiling/Contouring with the Lathe & Dremel
« Reply #11 on: September 30, 2012, 03:30:43 PM »
Nice job. Maybe it could be done on a Spindexer as well? Got any pics of your grinder setup, it's on my "to do" list ...  ;)

Offline 90LX_Notch

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Re: Profiling/Contouring with the Lathe & Dremel
« Reply #12 on: October 01, 2012, 12:08:56 AM »
Dave- I originally posted this in July and was referring to that "other" site that a bunch of us left.

Arbalest- I'll take a picture and post it up.  It's a real simple tool block made from scrap aluminum.
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Offline steamer

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Re: Profiling/Contouring with the Lathe & Dremel
« Reply #13 on: October 01, 2012, 01:15:20 AM »
Dave- I originally posted this in July and was referring to that "other" site that a bunch of us left.

Arbalest- I'll take a picture and post it up.  It's a real simple tool block made from scrap aluminum.

I know Bob....just kidding..... ;D
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Offline 90LX_Notch

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Re: Profiling/Contouring with the Lathe & Dremel
« Reply #14 on: October 02, 2012, 12:50:09 AM »
Arbalest-

The Dremel is hung above the lathe and the FlexShaft runs through the tool block.  When I made it, the face of the block near the headstock was indicated and aligned with the cross slide.  The bore in the block was then machined in the lathe so that it was on center with the lathe and perpendicular to the aforementioned face.

I originally made this so I could accurately spot bolt circles in the lathe with a center drill.  The profiling idea came out of necessity(desperation).

Any questions, feel free to ask.

-Bob
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