I have been reading and experimenting with the grinder setups. I downloaded a couple manuals for some of the small T&C grinders. I have found setups can be difficult and sometimes frustrating. Different machines have different adjustments and so....different methods to get the same results. One common thing I found is most of the tool rests are merely a flat piece of blade (usually a small piece of hacksaw blade) ground to whatever shape is needed to do the job. Next I find that it is a pain to try to keep the blade parallel with the flute and try to move it up or down at the same time all the while trying to move it the correct amount which may be only a few thousandths of an inch. Everyone has been doing it this way for years and though it works, it can be a lot easier. I found a stylus setup on the internet that is air operated and has two steps to it. The first step is adjusted to the height for the primary angle, the second step is adjusted to the secondary angle. An air controlled switch turns it on and off and selects the angle. While this was neat ...it is expensive and needs adapting to your particular machine. Sooooo...... I came up with the simple micrometer to do the same job and it was easy to make with pieces from my "inventory" box. This little setup is going to make grinding flutes much easier and because the design of the rest tip is round, I don't have to fuss with trying to keep that flat blade aligned while setting the height. I have found grinding the ends of the mills is fairly easy to setup and do. I have found I can use the air bearing for the flutes and the ends. The bearing has an index function built in to do the ends with 2,3,4,or 6 flutes. There are very few instructions out there on using a T&C grinder and many of the manuals leave a lot to your imagination for setting up. They all give you the desired specs of angles and such but don't step by step tell you how to set it up. I am trying to take the best info from several manuals and sources and figuring the easiest ways to accomplish it.
I have used some old T&C grinders many years ago and forgot a lot. Many think they will build a grinder such as a Bonnelle or another and start grinding their own tools. But, you will find you have a beautiful grinder built but it won't do anything. Now you have to have "tooling" or various holders and alignment jigs to make the grinder do what you want. You either have to have a special holder for each tool or try to make or purchase a universal fixture that may serve several purposes, but the bottom line is you get a grinder and you still need tooling for it.
Very nice work. Are you finding the 400-600 hours required a quorn to be close for your build?