Knurling Tool

[rossbotics]

After recently replacing the cross feed screw and nut in my Clausing Lathe I decided I wouldn’t do any more side knurling with the cross feed unless I hadn’t any other way, side knurling puts a lot of stress on the cross feed nut and screw which will soon wear and create a lot of backlash between the two, this is what I’m trying to avoid since I repaired those two components, so I designed and made an adjustable Knurling Tool, one that the knurling wheels are guided by a vertical dove tail slide that the knurling wheels travel up and down by means of a left and right hand thread adjusting screw, (like a turn buckle) this method will put very little pressure on the cross feed assembly greatly extending their lives.

This tool is made to fit the dove tail on a BXA Tool Post this way I can do quick change over’s from one tool to the other, once the two knurling wheels have been centered with the machines axis it’s locked into position just like any other BXA Tool Holder with no more adjustment necessary, it’s just a matter of opening and closing the two knurling wheels to the diameter your knurling using the vertical adjusting screw, the upper and lower knurling wheels will simultaneously make contact with the work no matter what diameter it is up to two inches, the two knurling wheels can be adjusted from touching together to 2.125” apart, this is about the largest diameter I ever knurl so it’s big enough to handle 98% of my knurling needs, anything larger than 2” will require side pressure knurling, this tool also performs side pressure knurling.

This knurling tool has an upper and lower knurling wheel holder with male dove tails machined onto them for traveling up and down in a female dovetail slide, the knurling wheels are opened and closed by means of a left and right hand threaded adjusting screw using a 1/4” allen wrench, the tool was made from 4140 Pre Hard Steel, this tool was designed to work on lathes with a 12” or larger swing equipped with a BXA Quick Change Tool Post.

I have attached some photos of the manufacturing of this tool and a photo of the basic design I got from an Aloris Knurling Tool, also a video and the setup demonstrating its use.

As always thanks for looking and happy machining
Doug