04/12/2017 Lathe

Finally our chance to get on a cutting lathe.
We're making a very simple jump ring mandrel with decreasing radii cut into a brass length of rod.

The brass is clamped into the lathe and the cutting tool brought in until it's central and just touching the end.

The spin speed is set by the two dials shown.
In this case 540 rpm (at least I assume it's rpm).

First we tidy up the end face by using the handles to move the cutting tool slowly into contact with the rod, then gradually outwards to create a clean flat surface.

The cutting tool is then moved right down the rod to approximately an inch (or however long a "handle" is required.
A shallow grove is cut around the rod to mark this location.

The cutting tool is then moved back to the end of the rod and the largest radii is cut slowly back to the mark.

This process is then repeated for the decreasing radii to the end of the rod.

Previous

Next