. .
  1. #1
    Hi,

    My local makerspace (in Norway) is currently finishing up converting a Boxford 125 TCL to LinuxCNC/PathPilot (we are documenting it as we go along and plan on posting the details later when we have finished everything).

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Boxford 125 TCL conversion.jpg 
Views:	1250 
Size:	243.7 KB 
ID:	21145

    The lathe include the turret but didn't come with any tooling. We have started to realise that getting the proper tooling is harder than expected due to lacking documentation (and knowledge) and the Boxford deviating a bit from other lathes.

    We believe the 125 TCL and 160 TCL share the same turret and there is some information to be had from the "Replacing the cuting tools on a Boxford TCL 160" thread. To our understanding the turret originally used tools with 9mm shank, but 10mm will also fit. However we aren't certain about this fact. Due to our lacking experience we would rather not gamble and order the wrong tools based on wrong assumptions.

    Could anyone help us out with suggesting proper modern alternatives to use for the cutting tools (tools and carbide inserts)? To my understanding we should include a left hand and a right hand cutting tool, external threading tool and a part off tool. In addition suggestions for the 4 internal tools would also be highly appreciated.

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    m_c's Avatar
    Lives in East Lothian, United Kingdom. Last Activity: 2 Days Ago Forum Superstar, has done so much to help others, they deserve a medal. Has been a member for 9-10 years. Has a total post count of 2,908. Received thanks 360 times, giving thanks to others 8 times.
    If you can't find a definitive answer, get a bit 10mm thick bar (width doesn't matter), clamp it in the turret like a tool, and see if what would be the cutting surface lines up with the chuck centreline. If it lines up, you need 10mm tools, if it doesn't, measure by how much it's away from the centreline.

    Personally, if it was designed to take 9mm tools, I'd remove the turret and machine each slot a mm lower, so I could use 10mm tooling.
    You'll struggle to get any 9mm tooling, whereas 10mm tooling is very common for hobby size lathes.
    Avoiding the rubbish customer service from AluminiumWarehouse since July '13.

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to m_c For This Useful Post:


  4. #3
    Clive S's Avatar
    Lives in Marple Stockport, United Kingdom. Last Activity: 14 Hours Ago Forum Superstar, has done so much to help others, they deserve a medal. Has been a member for 9-10 years. Has a total post count of 3,333. Received thanks 618 times, giving thanks to others 77 times. Made a monetary donation to the upkeep of the community. Is a beta tester for Machinists Network features.
    Hi Kjetilei Welcome to the forum, I think that there might be a few members on here that have done this sort of thing so could well chime in.

    I would be interested in following the software side with the conversion to Lcnc/PP as there are not that many here using Linuxcnc it would be nice if you could document that journey and post the hal & ini files etc.

    I use my mill and lathe with Lcnc with mesa cards also on the Linuxcnc forum there is a dedicated section for PP conversion. https://forum.linuxcnc.org/pathpilot. Good luck with the project.
    ..Clive
    The more you know, The better you know, How little you know

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to Clive S For This Useful Post:


  6. #4
    This is the tooling which was optionally supplied with the TCL160:

    Tooling package (optional)
    1 LH turning tool,10mm shank . SDJCL 1010-03
    1 RH turning tool,10mm shank . SDJCR 1010-03
    1 Pack of 10 inserts for above . DCGT090202SCT12A
    1 Parting off tool,10mm shank SGTFL 1010-1.6
    10 inserts for above GFN1.6 IC354 P35
    1 External threading tool, 10mm shank SDTML 1010-03
    10 inserts for above TNMC 32NV
    1 Boring bar, 10mm shank A08MSEUPL06
    10 inserts for above. EPMT060204E-S3X5
    1 Centre drill
    2 Twist drills (5mm & 10mm )

    The biggest problem with replacing the tooling is that most standard 10mm shank tools are too long, so need some of the shank cut/ground off, so that the turret can turn without the tools hitting the bed.

    Adrian.

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to Saracen For This Useful Post:


  8. #5
    @Saracen:
    Thanks a lot for the the list of tooling. It is extremely helpful!

    What tooling did you end up with for your 160 TCL? And where did you buy them if I might ask?

    I see that Glanze has some of these tools, but most likely not all. ISCAR seems to have some/all of the tooling (I haven't completed the searching yet).

    Did you have to grind off 1mm from the shank of the tool holders to get the inserts to align with the original intended 9mm or is it only the length of the tool holders that could be/is an issue?

    I don't get any meaningful hit on "A08MSEUPL06" when I Google it and I'm still too new in this game to know for sure what a proper substitute could/should be.

    Are the drills standard rotation drills or intended for reverse rotation?

    @Clive S:
    We plan on posting as much information as possible to make this journey easier for everyone. It is also helpful for ourself.

    @m_c:
    Thanks for your suggestions. @Saracen will hopefully provide us with the answers we need.

    Kjetil

  9. #6
    m_c's Avatar
    Lives in East Lothian, United Kingdom. Last Activity: 2 Days Ago Forum Superstar, has done so much to help others, they deserve a medal. Has been a member for 9-10 years. Has a total post count of 2,908. Received thanks 360 times, giving thanks to others 8 times.
    The modern equivalent for a A08MSEUPL06, would be a A08H SEUPL 06, however the 08 means it's a 8mm diameter boring bar. A 10mm would start with A10, and use a larger size insert, however it could of been a custom holder for Boxford.

    Personally, I'd suggest a SCLCR/L (the final R/L dictates left or right handed) style boring bar, which will use CCMT0602 inserts. Also get the same style turning holders, as it means everything will use the same style insert. CCMT inserts are a reasonably good all rounder, although you may want to consider some holders that use DCMT inserts, as the sharper point can be useful for certain profiles.

    However, the vast majority of turning will use a right hand tool, as most material removal is done working toward the chuck. I personally can't remember the last time I used a left hand tool to work away from the chuck.
    A good part off tool is always good to have, however a MDT (multi-direction tool)/grooving tool can part, work up to shoulders from most approach angles, and do general profiling work, albeit with a limited depth of cut/material removal rate, but I'm not sure what MDT tools are available with 10mm shanks.
    In fact Arc have something suitable - http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalo...g-Tool-Holders

    If you were to purchase a right hand turning tool (you might actually need a left hand, as I'm not sure how the tools mount in relation to the work piece on a TCL - you need whatever allows you to remove metal as you move towards the chuck), something like the grooving tool I've linked to, an 8mm boring bar, and some assorted drills (the 8mm bar will need a minimum 10mm hole to get started), those will be more than enough to get you going.

    For threading, you might struggle to get indexable holders for threading inserts with a 10mm shank. If so, it'll have to be ground HSS or brazed carbide tooling, with a suitable profile ground on. However have a search/browse of the more hobbyist suppliers to see what you can find. In the UK ARC, Chronos, Warco, Greenwood (just had a look and they do a 10mm shank threading tool - http://www.greenwood-tools.co.uk/shopscr111.html) come to mind as having reasonable quality turning tools.

    The problem you'll have is the common smallest size for industrial tooling is now 16mm, although most suppliers will still go down to 12mm. Anything smaller is for specialist machines, and usually comes with an inflated price tag from industrial suppliers, so you'll have to concentrate on the hobby market for 10mm tooling.
    Avoiding the rubbish customer service from AluminiumWarehouse since July '13.

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to m_c For This Useful Post:


  11. #7
    I have spent some more time looking into easily available tool holders. The issue is that few suppliers have the 1010 left hand tools required by the Boxford 125 TCL lathe.

    I'm not an expert on tooling, but here are the tool holder types that I'm considering at the moment:
    - Left hand tools -
    SCLCL1010H06 turning tool with CCMT0602 inserts
    MGEHL1010-1.5 parting/grooving tool with MGMN150 inserts (The Boxford recommended ISCAR tool uses 1.6mm inserts but is hard to find "locally". The other easily available width is 2.0mm)
    SEL1010H11 threading tool with 11ER inserts
    S06K-SCLCL06 boring bar with CCMT0602 inserts. Alternatively S08K-SCLCL06 (which is most likely more similar to the Boxford recommended A08MSEUPL06)

    - Right hand tool -
    SCLCR1010 turning tool with CCMT0602 inserts

    - Drills -
    Centre drill
    4 & 8mm twist drills or 5mm and 10mm twist drills (as specified by Boxford)

    I'm considering two alternatives at the moment:
    - buy all the suitable Glanze tool holders and the SGTFL 1010-1.6 ISCAR parting tool (if I can find that available with sane pricing/shipping).
    - buy from one of the Aliexpress sellers that has all tool holder variants needed, although with unknown quality but low prices

    The lathe is going to be used in a makerspace and I suspect that the tools and insert bits might not get all the TLC that they would want. In addition this is a huge learning experience for us so mistakes are likely. Due to this it might be wiser to go with the Aliexpress alternative and restock (possibly with better quality parts) when needed? However I don't want bad turning results due to using low quality tools.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Replacing the cuting tools on a Boxford TCL 160
    By Saracen in forum Boxford Lathes
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 22-01-2016, 12:25 AM
  2. Boxford TCL160 turret operation
    By Saracen in forum Boxford Lathes
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 22-10-2015, 11:58 AM
  3. Cutting PCB’s - recommendations, tools etc
    By Fivetide in forum Electronic Project Building
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 22-07-2013, 01:23 PM
  4. Looking for Lathe Cutting Tools
    By Zeeshan in forum Tool & Tooling Technology
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 06-09-2011, 09:50 AM
  5. UK Supplier of Cutting tools
    By Ccrewz in forum Tool & Tooling Technology
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 03-02-2010, 11:32 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •