Turret Lathe Mentor Needed (hoped For)

Daryl,
I have a Logan 850 that I purchased from a screw machine shop. It came with a 6 position turret in good working order, as well as a production cross slide to replace the tool room one. I had visions of setting up a job for a production run just for kicks, but have lost interest until a need comes along.
Back in the late 70's - early ' 80's, I worked as a manufacturing engineer on a line of bar stock machines. Similar tooling concepts as turret lathes. Each tool should be set to give finished sizes when they hit the positive stop. A lot of special ground tools were used to turn multiple diameters. As someone else said, plan your tool layout such that you can lock down your cross slide. Then once you get a part in print, you only need to gauge every 10 parts or so.
 
No, All I have are these W&S cataloge measurements.
I doubt the model numbers match up.
My plan was to measure cutter height of the crossfeed turret and build one with the same size ration, and design features.
I've only seen one Gisholt rear tool holder on Ebay, and missed her.

Daryl
MN

WS Single Cutter Tool Post.JPG
 
Uglydog said:
Not sure if this post belongs here.
Please move or delete as appropriate.

I've had a 1939 Gisholt #5 Ram Turret lathe for several years, and I've got her running pretty well.
I was using her exclusively for drilling and boring as I had no turret lathe tooling.
About a month ago I stumbled on a large pile of machine tooling. All priced based on how full the truck bed was. Included in the pile was turret lathe tooling... I'll start cleaning up the surface rust, doesn't appear to be any pitting despite sitting unused since the mid- 1930s. Based on the known history of the location, I believe the tooling was likely used to make "Gray" 18hp drum drive tractors. https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=AwrTcczuYfdVapMA0WYPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTByNWU4cGh1BGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?p=gray+tractors&back=https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=gray+tractors&ei=UTF-8&type=ff.40.w10.dsp.04-01.us.avg._.0615av&param1=rVHJbtwwDP2VXqybDS20PDroMGmSokAORZs2vWqhPC7ipZLHSf6-9Azacw4FJPGRIp-oxzBEW3Xeax-UkLoGr0MNEdvao4Ha-Q510vLgRaq6yMK4UAHXonUbi1aAAqGVNIpzzmKxxx-f2LObeosTGylTK4QWk0qqTdCF6EFyEGD4gRtulK-damNo1QEhoBEHbIWHaAxE7rgA9IonAIWa7e--rGe2ZJsy2yw0otGNNMA-nnPGaf3ievz-9cGe1nWplKtkojW-FXQ5nBq39U2YRwotlFfI_r0oy2ulEtFXKtIDldThgivZdjfv0oUSb6lsvJT9tx8TYyxESJLuPc0XdvrG6unYI-O15-swKLDrTj5OhDcC_xQif8kUSHnnJCC5aGuuayGpd3IMGXUEcTFKUVZxpGGMZdlxf1FD_ybTZ_dWSb9mF9Y5k4z-5HIeCvuGecP8-dY-3sj64fizfrq_44oNi9XUg6ANqhGmY3OxT8MU55fyQXDm7f2QMc2vzNNIecNZQPuYz8h-lSv4Aw2&param2=browser_search_provider&param3=ff.40.w10.dsp.04-01.us.avg._.0615av&hsimp=yhs-fh_lsonsw&hspart=avg&fr=&fr=yhs-avg-fh_lsonsw&turl=http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=WN.5bZbaSJ9pVECgWpLigWNQw&pid=15.1&rurl=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxH6gOpMQyA&tit=Gray+Antique+Tractor+at+Rollag+Minnesota+Threshing+Show&l=24&vid=48d859c3e5115d13b41dd36bc8ebaab9&sigr=11bdnen9t&sigb=1n9uorcli&sigt=11neqpuef&sigi=11v5oulbd&hspart=avg&hsimp=yhs-fh_lsonsw

I've begun reading some texts on how to properly use a turret lathe. And I understand that it will take a lifetime to learn, and that CNC has made her obsolete....

Regardless, is there anyone here who has experience/knowledge regarding proper use of vintage turret lathes and their tooling?

Ideally, and eventually, I'd hope that I would be invited to watch you run your machine, or you could come here.

Daryl
MN
Click to expand...


What type of turret tooling did you find? Did you find any Box tooling? Box tooling has a cutter bit and a adjustable follower rest built into the holder. That is a nice lathe.

You are correct CNC's did replace turrets and screw machines. Once the program is written and tweaked it can be stored in the computer for future runs.
 
I'll get some pics and develop a list this weekend.
I've been focusing on theory and less on specifics.

Daryl
MN
 
Uglydog said:
I'll get some pics and develop a list this weekend.
I've been focusing on theory and less on specifics.

Daryl
MN
Click to expand...

I found a photo supposedly your model turret lathe. It is nice large machine. Apparently many tool options for the turret. Usually the first position on the turret is the part stop. Most of the turrets have a rear tool holder on the back part of the slide where the cutoff blade is mounted.

Hope to see some photos when you get chance.
 
Great machines for manual production of parts within their particular constraints, I sometimes use a small Hardinge turret with no carriage or tool post, drilling and tapping small parts is a breeze and the machine itself is a work of art. They also have a Warner & Swasey number 5 something turret lathe with a 5" through the spindle bore, powered turret slide, powered apron and cross slide, I have no idea how much horsepower the spindle drive has but I routinely push 3" twist drills through 5" of stainless rounds without a pilot hole or spotted center, it never labors at all, it will push the stock right through the 3 Jaw chuck without a backer on the part.

However it has a useful envelope of about 12" between the turret and chuck/collet, you also cannot load parts from the front as the turret is in the way. These are great machines for their intended purpose, fairly limited for general lathe work.
 
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Daryl,
I've thought hard about buying a big turret lathe since there are so many up here going for almost scrap prices. But just not enough room in the shop. Two books that might help you:

"Getting the Most Out of Your Turret Lathe" and "The Turret Lathe Operator's Manual" both by Warner & Swasey
 
Thanks for the book titles recommendations!

Pics as per requested. I've been able to divine the names of some of these. However, having the name is not quite the same as figuring out how it works.
Didn't get much done this weekend. Eldest daughter decided to spend the weekend, she wanted to learn how to cut dovetails and finger joints. Yeah, wood stuff. Old school: dove tail saw and chisel. Spent a lot of time discussing joint set up application and honing.

Anyway... here are the turret attachment pics.
My plan is to identify each accessory, learn how each works, and learn it's capacity / limitations.

Thank you,
Daryl
MN

IMG_0032.JPG IMG_0043.JPG IMG_0044.JPG IMG_0045.JPG IMG_0046.JPG IMG_0047.JPG IMG_0048.JPG IMG_0049.JPG IMG_0050.JPG IMG_0051.JPG IMG_0052.JPG IMG_0053.JPG IMG_0054.JPG IMG_0055.JPG
 
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