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 !

http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...Boule_0001.jpg

http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...Boule_0002.jpg

http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...Boule_0003.jpg

Beveling, making a cutting edge with my high speed motor on the tool post.
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...Boule_0004.jpg

http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...Boule_0005.jpg

Here I am making a square tool holder, I didn't have one yet ...
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...Boule_0006.jpg

Here is the tool in its support.
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...Boule_0007.jpg

Two different diameters on both ends.
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...Boule_0008.jpg


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.
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...Boule_0009.jpg

Making a small groove at the base of the ball.
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...Boule_0010.jpg

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)
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...Boule_0011.jpg

Start machining the ball using first the cross slide, until the ball is half formed. (Red arrow)
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...Boule_0012.jpg

And then, use the compound slide to finish the ball, in the 30° direction (Red Arrow)
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...Boule_0013.jpg

Here is the ball !
There is always a small point at the tip ...
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...Boule_0014.jpg

Which is cleaned up with a file.
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...Boule_0015.jpg

Here this is just a detail of how the base can be turned down and threaded with a die.
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...Boule_0016.jpg

And here is a sample ball post.
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...Boule_0017.jpg

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

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.

That's neat. Never saw it done that way before.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Christophe Mineau

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.

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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.

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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:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-mini-ball-lathe-tool"> <img src="/uploads/211824/homemade-mini-ball-lathe-tool.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-mini-ball-lathe-tool">Mini Ball Lathe Tool</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/Christophe+Mineau">Christophe Mineau</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/ball-turning'>ball turning</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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Christophe
I see how you did it and I must say very inelegant and beautifully done.
Thanks for sharing
Nelson