Which QC tool post for Boxford TCL

[John11668]

Hi Again guys

There was a fair discussion in My TCL thread about the inadequacies of the Boxford turret and the advantages of a QC tool post instead .
So with a view to getting the good lady and the family to fund a tool post as my xmas present , which type should I choose.

I suspect that this machine will be merely a stepping stone to a more practical project so I dont want to spend big bucks on one . Unless of course it will be naturally applicable to my next and maybe bigger project. I think TCL has a centre height of about 25mm.

Suggestions please ,
John

[depronman]

Hi John,
I can absolutly recomend the Multifix QCTP. I've had one on myBoxford lathe for the last 35 years (rescued from a Hardinge lathe that was being scrapped when I worked at BAE Lostock), I bought the same size tool post and 4 holders from an ebay seller about 12 months ago, they are a 'copy' of the mutifix system and they would not garantee interchaneability of the 6 tool holds that I already had the new tool post and 4 holders, but I figured it was worth taking a chance as at best I would have 10 tool holders between my Boxford and Orac lathe's, at worst I would have 6 tool holders for one machine and 4 for the other
I think I paid around £220 including delivery for the tool holder, spanners and 4 tool holders.

The tool holders are infact interchangeable and by making a setting spacer I can even set up the tool height on centre line on the Orac and then if I want to use the same tool / toolholder on the Boxford just insert the spacer and the tool is on centre height on that lathe as well
In reality I have found that I rarely need more than 5 tool holders, LH tipped tool, Parting off tipped tool, threading tool tipped, small boring bar, large boring bar tipped

if you do go with the above it would be worth ordering an extra tool post as if you order it together I think it added about £35, but if you order latter it was £20ish carriage on top
let me know if you want me to dig out the Co I bought to all from

The toolpost can be indexed through 40 different angles so its really versatil
I am also getting part accuracy of +/- 0.0002" on a run of 20 parts in ally, this is the same with or without tool changes, so the repeatability of the QCTP is absolutly spot on

They do different sizes, I bought AA from memory, a little big for the ORAC, spot on for the Boxford, from memory takes tooling upto about 5/8" Sq

Cheers,
Paul

[John11668]

Hi Paul.
My dreams dont quite stretch to a multifix much as I would love one

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2060353.m570.l1311&_nkw=multifix+toolpost&_sacat=0 Dont get much for a lot of money on these pages

My project has been on a bit of a shoestring with the initial cost of the machine ending up at £375, and I am not going to be looking to do high accuracy jobs for a long time and by that time I might have weighed in the TCL to go for something a bit more robust.

So I have gone for this . Cheap and cheerful like my other kit, (and like me )

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RDGTOOLS-QUICK-CHANGE-TOOL-POST-FOR-MINI-LATHE/290590980973?hash=item43a8927b6d:g:aXIAAOSwPc9Wxwr Y

My eventual project if I live long enough would be to take something like this and convert it .
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hardinge-Turret-Lathe-with-collets-and-tool-holders/233677454692?hash=item366842fd64:g:qwoAAOSwphJfMtm j

although this is probably more in my bracket
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hardinge-HC-Turret-Lathe-spares-or-repair/124395961627?hash=item1cf693bd1b:g:1mcAAOSwx9JfjgG m

Maybe do something like that when I get to play with my TCL

[John11668]

Hi Paul.
My dreams dont quite stretch to a multifix much as I would love one

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2060353.m570.l1311&_nkw=multifix+toolpost&_sacat=0

My project has been on a bit of a shoestring with the intial cost of the machine ending up at £375, and I am not going to be looking to do high accuracy jobs for a long time and by that time I might have weighed in the TCL to ho for something a bit more robust.

So I have gone for this . Cheap and cheerful like my other kit, (and like me )

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RDGTOOLS-QUICK-CHANGE-TOOL-POST-FOR-MINI-LATHE/290590980973?hash=item43a8927b6d:g:aXIAAOSwPc9Wxwr Y

My eventual project if I live long enough would be to take something like this and convert it .
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hardinge-Turret-Lathe-with-collets-and-tool-holders/233677454692?hash=item366842fd64:g:qwoAAOSwphJfMtm j

although this is probably more in my bracket
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hardinge-HC-Turret-Lathe-spares-or-repair/124395961627?hash=item1cf693bd1b:g:1mcAAOSwx9JfjgG m

Maybe do something like that when I get to play with my TCL

[cropwell]

I am wary of QCTP with an aluminium base, as most of the cheaper ones seem to be.

[John11668]

I got the all metal ones .
Dickson style but Size T37. Beautifully made in the far east, but they will probably be OK

[whamilton121993]

I got the all metal ones .
Dickson style but Size T37. Beautifully made in the far east, but they will probably be OK

Hi John,

Just wondering if you ever got this toolpost ordered and fitted? if so did you have to make an adapter plate to get it fitted? i'm about to buy one myself.


Thanks,
William

[John11668]

I could send you some pics William.
Am just in process of adding a rear toolpost for parting off (but this is a self made item)

[whamilton121993]

Hi John,

some pics would be much appreciated.

thanks, william

[John11668]

Will get you some pics shortly William , when I get the hang of this new phone with 48Mp camera

[John11668]

So bear with me on this or maybe the I-phone users will point me to an easy way. My new Android also saves pics in HEIC so that windows cant manage them.
It does however put them into google photos so i can download them . I then use an online converter for jpeg, so lets see if it works.

2 pics .



29729 29730



First shows my adaptor for tool block fitted to slide using existing tapped holes, and my initial attempts at a "rear" parting off toolpost .
Second shows improved PO toolpost, with T37 tool block above . I am using a narrow tip tool for the sort of profiling which is generated by Mach Wizards .
Have to say that Mach 3 wizards have some very inefficient routines , but like the old bike , good enough to learn on.

Parting off on TCL with 20mm bar struggles a bit so will be looking to see if my DC controller can boost a bit

[John11668]

Seemed to work , but if I click the pics they get turned 90 degrees , so you may have to lie down for a good look :drunk:
Are you using the original motor and lenze controller Will?

[magicniner]

My TCL125 has a factory fitted Dickson QCTP of the same size as is sold for the Myford Super7 and ML7.

[John11668]

Mine are aftermarket copies but the same size and reasonable enough for me . The genuine article would probably have cost me more than the machine did.