Lathe Tool Height Setter

[sshire]

Lathe Tool Setter

There are probably dozens of solutions to setting the height of a lathe tool. From the “pinch the ruler” technique to the Hardinge Height setter as well as the integrated bubble level devices.

A few years ago, I saw a variation of this tool. I honestly don’t remember where so, I can’t properly credit the designer. Although mine is simplified, It’s very accurate.

Drawings are posted in the Plans area.

None of the dimensions are critical. The .5” and .25” rods are Drill Rod (Silver Steel). The fit of the small rod in the larger rod should be a very close slip fit.

When I use mine, I replace the rounded tip of the dial indicator with a flat tip.



So, here’s how to use it.

Step one

With the height setting tool in a collet or chuck, set the D.I. to 1/2 of the smaller (removable) rod’s diameter. My rod is .25, so the D.I. is set to +.125.



Step two

Remove the center rod and place the tool under the D.I. tip.

Adjust the lathe tool’s height until the D.I. reads 0.



That’s it.

[CHP]

Nice small project

are you using a square to make sure your tool
is perfectly 90 degree with your bead

I'll make one for sure 

[sshire]

What is the issue if the tool isn't at 90°? I'm not understanding that?

[CHP]

It's only to give you a reference.

If it's slightly in an angle you won't have the same reading

[sshire]

If the tool is level, relative to the lathe bed, pivoting the tool to any angle shouldn't change the height of the cutting edge.
Being curious, I set a tool to 0, then checked at various angles by rotating the Aloris tool post. Less than .0005 difference.

[DICKEYBIRD]

Here's the original post by this brilliant old man I talk to every day.   Probably not the 1st guy to do it this way or the last.

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/threads/60113-Yet-another-lathe-tool-center-setting-gauge?highlight=TOOL+HEIGHT

I do check with a square each time to ensure accuracy & consistency.

[CHP]

If the tool is level, relative to the lathe bed,

yes this is what I ment by using a square to set the indicator 90 with the bead

[sshire]

Of course. I thought you meant squaring the cutting tool.
I do use a square against the frame of the setting tool.
Sorry for my confusion.
I believe that is the original post  that I saw. I've searched and couldn't find it.
Thank you

[philjoe5]

Nice, I'm going to make one.

Cheers,
Phil

[DICKEYBIRD]

Another cool thing I discovered is that after you've set the tool height , you can rotate the gauge 90 deg away from you, re-square it and jog the tool in or out until it's at zero again & set the offset in Mach3's tool table.  (Or whichever CNC lathe controller du joir you're using) .  Come to think of it, if you've got DRO's on a manual lathe it'd be worthwhile setting up a tool table using the same method.

Of course, that's just a repeatable starting point for all your different tools.  The type of tool, material, speed/feed etc. makes a difference in the final position of the tool tip needed to end up with a precise part diameter.  I now have 16 different QC tool holders dialed-in including a couple drill holders & a QC X-axis live drill for drilling holes from the side.  (I'm working on a QC mounted TPG right now that will need to be dialed-in too.)

That gauge tool sure makes the the setup a lot easier!

[Hugh Currin]

Nice tool for setting tool height. Much more accurate than the eye I've always used. After reading this I think I'll make one up pretty soon.

Another cool thing I discovered is that after you've set the tool height , you can rotate the gauge 90 deg away from you, re-square it and jog the tool in or out until it's at zero again & set the offset in Mach3's tool table.  (Or whichever CNC lathe controller du joir you're using).

Briliant. Now I'll have to make one up real soon.

Stan & Dickeybird, thanks.

Hugh

[phrodo]

Hi,

Forgive me if I'm missing something here, but don't the two pictures show a delta of 0.1125 not 0.125?

John

[pgp001]

Well spotted, you are right. One turn plus 0.0125 is not 1/8", it should be reading 0.025
The principle works though, he probably just had a "Blonde" moment setting it up for the photo.

Phil

[sshire]

Correct. It was a quick setup for the photo shoot.
Good catch, though.

[DICKEYBIRD]

Now that the pics are being talked about; is it just the wonky vision caused by my progressive lenses or does the test rod lean upwards?  I hope it's just me.