TPG Baby!

[Janderso]

You old timers are going to roll your eyes but hey, I just discovered TPGN.
It occurred to me, I have mostly negative rake carbide insert tool holders. Sometimes you don’t need or want to remove >.200” each pass.
If you are looking for an economical multi purpose carbide tool bit and holder, look at the TPG.
As a hobby machinist, I’m making new discoveries all the time.
The negative rake does fine on my 7.5 HP lathe. Finish quality and lighter cuts can be improved with a neutral or positive rake.
Just thought I would share my discovery.

 

[benmychree]

I use mostly TPG inserts, but do have a bunch of neg/pos as well, when I run out of TPG, I may be forced to fall back on the others. TN inserts are fine for roughing (if you have plenty of horsepower), but do not work very well for finishing work.

 

[MrWhoopee]

The TPG-32X were the insert we used the most in the shop. I ordered them 10 packs at a time.

We had the Aloris CXA-16 holders for the lathes


and sets of R8 shank face mills for the Bridgeports.


Not exactly a high-tech insert, but effective and economical.

edit: Jeff, who exactly is Cookie?

 

[benmychree]

I used the same holders for my lathes, BA and CA 16.

 

[Janderso]

Mr. Whoopee,
How/where did you hear of the, "cookie" reference?

In the old days the wagon trains and cowboys had a cook wagon with all the salt pork, beans, flour, lard etc.
The fellow doing the cooking was referred to as, Cookie.
I use to do Civil War Re-enactments, the first time I made chicken and dumplings in four dutch ovens over a wood fire for 45 hungry men, well that sealed my fate.
To some friends I'll always be Cookie.

 

[Reddinr]

Gaaaa. More tools to buy. I mean yay! more tools to buy!

 

[Jimsehr]

There is no law that says you can’t hand grind a positive rake onto a negative insert tool.
I’ve been doing it for years. And I also hand sharpen inserts.

 

[macardoso]

I have a 12x36 lathe (so a bit smaller than you guys), but my personal favorite inserts are CCMT and VCMT. The CCMT can take the full 1.5HP that I can give it. The VCMT is my fine finishing insert and imparts extremely low cutting forces.

I've become a big fan of the razor ground CCGT and VCGT inserts lately (designed for aluminum) and I even use them on steels and stainless. I can shave a few tenths off the diameter no problem to bring in a tight finish.

 

[Cadillac]

I also use tpg inserts on my lathe and have 2 face mill cutters like posted above that use the same. Definately helps to have multiple uses for the same inserts.

 

[Mitch Alsup]

There is no law that says you can’t hand grind a positive rake onto a negative insert tool.
I’ve been doing it for years. And I also hand sharpen inserts.

Nothing says you have to hand grind it, either::

I mainly use CNMG inserts, but when cutting something soft and gummy, I will often switch to CCGT in the same tool.

And yes, buy then at least 10 at a time.