Lathe Toolholder Racks

[Responsible]

Thought I would post a couple photos of the toolholder racks I built for the lathes at work. The first is dead simple, and is just a piece of aluminum angle bolted through a piece of aluminum square tube to the top of the backsplash. The second has more fabrication involved and is a piece of aluminum angle welded to some standoffs to mount on the backsplash of the larger lathe. I added a rack to hold the tailstock accessories and commonly used wrenches.

Both work very well to keep the holders organized and within easy reach. Hope it helps someone!

Pete









Attachment 20614

[DIYer]

Thanks Responsible! We've added your Lathe Tool Holder to our Storage and Organization category,
as well as to your builder page: Responsible's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Lathe Tool Holder by Responsible

tags: tool holder

[Toolmaker51]

Nice use of the angle stock; especially on larger rack. No horizontal surfaces for chips to land. I think a QC setup isn't very quick until tools are parked in order they'll be used on a a set of parts. A lot of buyers get a system, then forget the logic of how a machining process benefits from QC tooling. Somehow a New York traffic jam of tool holders comes to mind.

But white walls, lighting AND windows? Who gets a room with those and machine tools too?
Count me envious.

You just had to add a 5th floor view exists......! I'm amused Bender B. Rodriguez is your avatar too.

[Responsible]

Thanks Toolmaker51. What you can't see is that the shop is on the 5th floor.(!) I work at a small university, and using this machine shop is part of my regular duties. Pretty mundane work most of the time, with the odd bit of interesting material or jobs. I am pretty lucky!

Pete

[12bolts]

I'm intrigued by this

....I think a QC setup isn't very quick until tools are parked in order they'll be used on a a set of parts. .....

Do you re-arrange your rack layout each time you machine a new set of parts? For me, I keep the same tool located in the same position. That way my hand can "usually" go to the correct spot for the tool I want.

Cheers Phil

[Toolmaker51]

Well, if there are sufficient parts, I like to stage toolholders in order. I don't run production work in the normal sense, occasionally multiple components for a job. If a DRO is installed, then it works even better. Usually using a dial indicator, so cutters are set to coincide with features, say boring, ring grooves or threading. I use all kinds of holders, somehow a turret works best for one case, QC on others. My favorite QC is the Boni-Feldbach, then Aloris.

[Frank S]

If I could afford to change out everything I would go with the Boni Fieldback model 125 which would allow me to have as many as 4 tool holders mounted on the tool post at once or the Aloris index-able