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Thread: Mini ball lathe tool

  1. #1
    Supporting Member Christophe Mineau's Avatar
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    Christophe Mineau's Tools

    Mini ball lathe tool

    Hi,
    Here is a fine little tool that allows to turn relatively easily some small balls on the lathe.
    The initial purpose of these balls is to make woodwind instrument ball shape posts for supporting keys.

    This idea comes from a Youtube channel owned by the user "slausonm", many thanks to him !

    The tool is very simple, it's formed with an HSS bar drilled with a hole at the end.

    Here are the photos :

    Drilling the HSS bar with a carbide glass drill bit. Works like a charm !







    Beveling, making a cutting edge with my high speed motor on the tool post.




    Here I am making a square tool holder, I didn't have one yet ...


    Here is the tool in its support.


    Two different diameters on both ends.



    And here is how it is used.
    First , starting by a cylinder, the same diameter as the hole in the bar, it will be the diameter of the ball.
    Here I am using the caliper depth gauge in order to setup my parting tool.


    Making a small groove at the base of the ball.


    Now the compound is set at a 30° angle.
    The tool is installed, and it is set so that the right inner edge is aligned with the tip of the workpiece
    (see the red dash line)


    Start machining the ball using first the cross slide, until the ball is half formed. (Red arrow)


    And then, use the compound slide to finish the ball, in the 30° direction (Red Arrow)


    Here is the ball !
    There is always a small point at the tip ...


    Which is cleaned up with a file.


    Here this is just a detail of how the base can be turned down and threaded with a die.


    And here is a sample ball post.


    This is something not so common on the Web, I thank again Mathew Slausonm for having showed the method !

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    Cheers !
    Christophe
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  2. The Following 17 Users Say Thank You to Christophe Mineau For This Useful Post:

    Canyonman44 (Oct 20, 2022), high-side (Jul 4, 2020), HUMARIA (Jul 3, 2020), JDrouin (Jul 2, 2020), JoeH (Jul 3, 2020), johncg (Oct 19, 2022), Jon (Mar 19, 2018), PJs (Mar 19, 2018), Ralphxyz (Jul 21, 2023), Seedtick (Mar 19, 2018), Sleykin (Jan 17, 2023), soundguy (Jan 8, 2023), that_other_guy (Jan 7, 2019), thehomeengineer (Mar 19, 2018), Toolmaker51 (Mar 19, 2018), tooly (Mar 19, 2018), Wildwilly (Dec 10, 2020)

  3. #2

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    Topos's Tools
    Incredibly brilliant execution, stellar presentation, and most generous in detail showing.
    Your technique will be used immediately for a long dormant project. Please
    accept admiration and gratitude.
    Best.

    2000 Tool Plans

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to Topos For This Useful Post:

    Christophe Mineau (Mar 20, 2018)

  5. #3
    Kneil's Avatar
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    That's neat. Never saw it done that way before.

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to Kneil For This Useful Post:

    Christophe Mineau (Mar 20, 2018)

  7. #4
    Supporting Member Toolmaker51's Avatar
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    Toolmaker51's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by Christophe Mineau View Post
    Hi, Here is a fine little tool that allows to turn relatively easily some small balls on the lathe.
    The initial purpose of these balls is to make woodwind instrument ball shape posts for supporting keys.
    Far more efficient than generating a radius on a wheel to grind a common form tool. Not to mention in this small diameter. We Thank You Christophe in both finding and relaying to us collectively. Makes me want to experiment with elongated shapes. I have a project awaiting a socket and ball [teardrop, actually] arrangement.
    Sincerely,
    Toolmaker51
    ...we'll learn more by wandering than searching...

  8. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Toolmaker51 For This Useful Post:

    Aussie48 (Mar 20, 2018), Christophe Mineau (Mar 20, 2018), PJs (Mar 20, 2018)

  9. #5
    Content Editor
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    Thanks Christophe Mineau! We've added your Mini Ball Lathe Tool to our Machining category,
    as well as to your builder page: Christophe Mineau's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:




  10. #6
    Supporting Member ncollar's Avatar
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    Christophe
    I see how you did it and I must say very inelegant and beautifully done.
    Thanks for sharing
    Nelson



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