Lathe Slotting Tool

[KB]

I needed to be able to cut a blind key-way, so I made the slotting tool I've been meaning to make for ages.
I had some linear ball bearings on hand and they seem to work well.
Included is the CAD model,

   


   









Cheers.

[swwi]

Very nice design! Where did you get the interchangeable end for your boring bar? I could probably build one from your photo, but do you have a different downloadable format? Thanks for posting this....

[90LX_Notch]

Kevin-

Very nice.  A slotting attachment has been on my "one of these days" project list. 

-Bob

[Thor]

Hi Kevin,

 That's a nice slotting tool. I made one  for my small lathe, but I used dovetails instead of a linear bearing, and mine attaches to the cross slide.

Thor

[KB]

Thanks all!

SWWI, I made the interchangeable tip as an after thought. At first I was going to just clamp a bit in the slot to get the job done but then made the tip to suit and in the future I can make more to fit smaller bores.

Thor, I found your drawing on the internet when I was looking for ideas regarding the linkage arrangement. I was impressed with the stoutness of your tool. (that's also what she said  ) Thanks for the inspiration!

At first I tried a tool bit with positive top rake and it would cut fine until I got about thirty thou' deep and then it would dig in. A negative top rake worked fine. (or front, I guess in this arrangement)  The piece in the picture was a scrap piece of stainless for testing.

Here is a drawing ↓

KB

[tel]

Nice job - mine is a bit rougher, but works fine.

[Arbalest]

Nice Tel, I think I prefer yours with the pivot at the rear. I expect it would be easier to use.

[KB]

Tel, I remembered you had made one when I drew mine up but wasn't able to find it. Thank you for the inspiration as well!

In my drawing I meant to add a grease fitting in the top, middle of the block.

[BaronJ]

Hi Guys,

It seems that a number of people have made some kind of tool to slot or put keyways into workpieces, including me. :-)
So I thought you might like to see mine.  The second picture is of the toolbit that I made with an adjustable cutter.  The other pictures sre the tool in use and the finished work.

[KB]

Now that, is heavy duty!

I like how the bar is supported during the stroke, allowing heavier cuts. How much per pass?

[BaronJ]

Hi Kevin,

With the adjustable cutter I made, which was 4mm wide and I needed just over 2mm depth, not much.  I took about 5 thou cuts.  I didn't discover that the material that I thought was brass, was in fact bronze.  It also made the oveall length of the ram more than I would have liked.

I've since done a 6 mm wide 3 mm deep slot in steel.  Again 5 thou depth of cut, but the steel cut a lot more easily and didn't have the benefit of any support at the back of the toolbit.

[steamer]

Here's mine...



Also made a simple index plate for the 5C collet chuck to go with it



Dave

[BaronJ]

Hi Dave,

That's nice.  I like the index plate idea too.   The combination of the two would be good for cutting small gears.