Tangential (diamond) Tool Holder

[Crusty]

After seeing Celsoari's effort I decided to learn about Tangential Tool Holders and to make one. Here's my finished holder.

Side view in QC mount




End view


Top view (see the diamond)

It uses a common ¼" lathe cutting tool, flat ground on the end at a 30º angle from the point. The holder itself rakes the point forward 12º and inward 12º and the holder was made so that the cutting tool is rotated 45º from parallel to the ways. After using it some, I'll probably make right and left hand holders too with the cutting tool parallel for more options when turning or facing. Since the tool is very rigid it cuts beautifully in aluminum and steel (I'd never seen 3' long thread like chips before), and resharpening to a pristine new edge takes less than 5 minutes with a bench grinder jig I also made. The Caswell black oxide finish turned out nice and the process is a lot easier than anodizing aluminum for procedural comparison.

Aluminum ________________ Steel

Holding it at all the correct angles for milling was a challenge but this configuration worked well without having to buy anything to get 'er done.