Dividing head,what a great tool to have

I love my new vertex bs-0 dividing head. It opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me. I know this has probably been posted a gazillion times,but I feel like sharing.
Today I made myself a dovetail cutter using two
TCMT 16T308 MP NC 3225 inserts with a positive rake and 7degree relief angle.
I did not take enough pics for this post.....was enjoying myself too much.



What you don't see is, I've set my dividing head 30degr. out of parallel to my mill bed to get the right angle for the insert and tilt the DH 2degrees down to get a positive axial rake. I didn't want to go too big on that angle because of the 7 degr.
relief angle,I do not want the insert to drag.

The DH allowed me to machine the two insert landings at the same hight and depth 180 degrees appart.
The cutter angle is 60degr. and the shaft diameter is 20mm (the bigger the better.) The head is about 38mm OD and shaft about 75mm long.
I do not have a job for it yet and are eager to try it out. Maby I wil make a trial cut soon just to see if it works right. Thanks for reading guys.

 

Nicely done!
Thanks for sharing it.
-brino

 

very nice, have you tried it yet? let us know how it works bill

 

very nice, have you tried it yet? let us know how it works bill

I didn't test it yet,but am eager to. There is not a job for it yet. I have a few things to do over the next few days and then I will make a plan. Will post pics of course.

 

Well Done!

You could also do that with a collet block.

 

That's pretty cool, but I can't visualize how it was held in a rotary table 30-deg out of parallel to the mill. Got any setup pics or drawings or links?

 

That's pretty cool, but I can't visualize how it was held in a rotary table 30-deg out of parallel to the mill. Got any setup pics or drawings or links?

I will post some pics tomorrow what I meant by that.

 

Well Done!

You could also do that with a collet block.

Hi Randy.
I don't have a collet block,but I can see that this can be done that way,I just wonder if you cant get the same precision that you can achieve with a dividing head. What I mean is,would you be able to get the exact depth of insert tip to cutter arbor on both sides with a collet block so that the one tip does'nt do all the cutting? I am asking cause I have never used on before.

 

That's pretty cool, but I can't visualize how it was held in a rotary table 30-deg out of parallel to the mill. Got any setup pics or drawings or links?

Hi there Stioc.
Here are the pics to explain what I meant.

To get this angle in order for the insert to be flat at the bottom of the cutter...


I had to turn the the dividing head 30degrees out of square, I hope you understand, I don't know if I am using the correct words to explain,but I think the pictures would.

The square showes 60,but I know you understand that it is 30degr out from 90degr.

And this is the 2 degrees downwards to get the 2degr positive axial rake.

I trust this explains it,but if you are not sure,please ask.

Have a good day
Michael.

 

Looks good. I have several projects that are waiting patiently for my dividing head to arrive, ( Canada Post claims today is the day ) So many jobs to be done so little time...