Need to cut 316L caseback on my Boley mini lathe, possible?

[Natas78]

Hi guys,

Wonder if someone could help me out, I need to cut back a caseback a bit, but I'm facing some dilemma's.

-Obviously a normal cutter won't work, stainless is too damn hard, but what can I use that fits my lathe?
-Does the speed matter a lot if its only for cutting back a little bit?
-I have both a normal shank holder (half round type like pictured here:

and a square one that holds a shank up to 7,5mm and secured by allen key screws.

-I'm looking at some carbide tip shanks but they're all too big. Is there a way to mod them?

Thank you!

 

[Ko67]

Turning stainless on a watchmaker's lathe is tough, but you can do it. Either very precisely ground HSS graver tools or a carbide graver are needed. You also need cutting lube and a very sturdy tool post. Like any machining operation you success depends on the balance of spindle speed and tool feed pressure and this only comes from practice . I suggest you get scrap case back and work out the kinks there. Some stainless steel parts respond better to a grinding operation than to a tool cutting operation.

As to your carbide bits question, generally the only part that is carbide on a lathe bit is he cemented carbide tip. The shanks are mild steel and can be shaped and machined your skills allow.

 

[Natas78]

Turning stainless on a watchmaker's lathe is tough, but you can do it. Either very precisely ground HSS graver tools or a carbide graver are needed. You also need cutting lube and a very sturdy tool post. Like any machining operation you success depends on the balance of spindle speed and tool feed pressure and this only comes from practice . I suggest you get scrap case back and work out the kinks there. Some stainless steel parts respond better to a grinding operation than to a tool cutting operation.

As to your carbide bits question, generally the only part that is carbide on a lathe bit is he cemented carbide tip. The shanks are mild steel and can be shaped and machined your skills allow.

Hi,

just bought this on the bay http://www.benl.ebay.be/itm/6mm-Sqa...bide-Indexing-Fits-Emco-Unimat-/151209642003? they look ok for the price, probably won't last long but I don't work too often on the lathe so we'll give it a go.

Thank you very much for the tips! Will put them to good use.

 

[Pratt]

Well done . Now u working on lathe ! That's an upgrade of skill sets !

~ Pratto Brevatti

 

[Natas78]

Well done . Now u working on lathe ! That's an upgrade of skill sets !

~ Pratto Brevatti

Hi Pratt, yes its essential in watchmaking school, bought a small one same model as pictured, you can just about do anything with it! Now I have to learn, learn & learn