[Lathe] Fanuc OT to DC_CNC conversion

FWIW, I make my own part pullers. Mine are super simple, just make a tube about two inch long with ID about 2 thou smaller than stock to pull, OD about 1/8 larger, stub end to fit a tool holder. Put a taper lead in on ID. Now, just saw it twice to make four 90 degree 1/4 rounds 1.5 inch or so long

Then just push it on 1/2 inch at end of cycle, open collet closer, retract to desired length, close closer, retract some more. Finished!

Karl
 
FWIW, I make my own part pullers

I like that. The ebay one I linked is a version I thought I could make and sell. That would be only reason to make it like they did.
They get (if they sell) a lot of money for them seems crazy.

Do you use steel, aluminum or both for your pullers?
 
Do you use steel, aluminum or both for your pullers?

AL makes a TERRIBLE spring, got to be steel. But I do use mystery metal. that is, what is about the right size and laying in the small chunk pile.
 
Well, today was collet grinding day. I was having a heck of a time getting the 1.5 inch 6061 through the collet. It seems that the collet (Lindex) was made on a Friday afternoon and the bore had a bit of a taper in it. :cautious: I was having to drive the stock through the collet with a dead blow hammer, OK for testing but not acceptable for production. These collets have about 2 inch deep grip surface, and the first inch or so was OK, but the last inch was tight.

So first shim the slots in the collet so it can't collapse. I went to Harbor Freight and bought a half dozen feeler gauge sets ($5.00 each, cheap shim stock) yesterday for tool holder shims, and today used a few blades to make the shims for the collet.

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Of course they are too long and wide to fit the collet properly so a little grinding is in order.
So using the cutoff wheel start trimming the shims down. I got a little bit sloppy with the grinder but it won't hurt the collet function at all.
1526696258056.png

Then mount up my air grinder in a tool holder and dress the wheel. Can't really see it but that's a dressing diamond in the collet. I made that air grinder holder when I had to regrind the bore in my cheap Ebay 5C collet chuck for my other lathe.
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No real worries about grinding dust in this lathe, the ways and ball screws are well protected and the spindle has an air purge. Then when I was done, flushed out and washed down everything with coolant.

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Now the material slides through the collet like it should, and I can use a part puller. :encourage:

And on another note, got the G code squared away and made the first production quality part. The lathe cuts exactly where it's told to. :)
 
I just bumped into this thread and read it through.

Just in time for the VICTORY celebration.

SUPER job Jim.
 
Now the material slides through the collet like it should, and I can use a part puller.

I've been having the same type problem, but it's this aluminum now that comes .006 oversize. So now we need emergency collets for all aluminum stock?
Even getting 64th size collets doesn't fix it.
All my old aluminum stock fits the collets and slides though when released just fine. But all the material I've been getting lately is oversize and a real pain to move in the collet.
Brass & bronze stock I've gotten recently is still on size fortunately.
I see McMaster shows on size aluminum stock but at quite a premium.
Doing any amount of the stock it would make sense to modify the collet rather than pay for the high dollar aluminum.
 
Hey Jim.... what type of Flood are you going to run? Just wondering. Why.. I dunno. ....what a thread series!!! THANK YOU as always for your significant educational material & info for us all.
 
Hey Jim.... what type of Flood are you going to run? Just wondering. Why.. I dunno. ....what a thread series!!! THANK YOU as always for your significant educational material & info for us all.

Thank you Jeff.

We are using Blasocut 2000 cf mixed 7 to 10% in both the lathe and mill.
 
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