The Secret Society of Lathe Trolls

Hello there trolls. I have been cutting for 4 years with an MSS mono lathe, with myshank diamonds and blanks. I have used various anti static sprays, mainly Staticide and my favorite Turtle wax: Wax and dry. But you can only get Turtle wax: Wax and dry in the USA, so getting it is tricky. ( I am in ...

Ps I have been measuring on the edge. Though maybe not close enough

Hi Yes now my stylus is a bit older (not too old.maybe 40 hours) am getting floor noise with clear blanks and no noise with black blanks. This is speculation but using the laser thermometer on clear blanks (myshank) its saying 26 degrees, but perhaps it is less than that. It could be getting the rea...

Hi Thanks this is all Good information..I Will look up Variac and side blower.
Best
Nik

Hello tragwag, thanks for replying. No I am not using a variac, Its a vacuum pump by Vevor. It is 2 stage with 5cfm. It is powerful but was cheap so I am thinking it might not last long. I made a new nozzle that doesn't bend at the end to get in place but curves round and has a more open opening. Th...

Hello everyone! I got a new pump recently, and got the swarf jar and tube really air tight. The suction noise near the stylus is loud now. Which is good as it picks up the swarf more easily now, as its powerful. But I am hearing a slight noise on the record now, which could be other issues (need mor...

Hello again
my groove width is roughly 50um. That seems like its in the range of ok. Yes?
Best
Nik

dmills wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 24, 2021 5:46 am

Groove depth is always just under half groove width if the cutter stylus is in even reasonable condition, as the stylus has a 90 degree tip (With a typically 1 micron rounded point, hence the just under).

Thanks that really good to know. What is a goo groove width?

Aussie0zborn wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 24, 2021 5:27 am

The microscope goes on the side opposite the head.

Thanks i'll look into that.

..... and here is photos to show the head

http://www.nikclifford.co.uk/photos/20210611_105600.jpg

http://www.nikclifford.co.uk/photos/cutterhead_smaller.jpg

Hi Handcut, Thank you very much the reply. Yes I am using turtle wax spray for anti-static. The humidity is around 47% the moment, which it good. Though its been hot here (for London) and humid at the same time. sometimes it gets down to 27%. I do have a normal microscope but not attached to the lat...

Hey There I am using a MSS vintage mono lathe with myshank diamond and blanks. Cutting has been going great, but recently swarf has gone frizzy and curly and not going up the tube! I am already pressing down with 16grams. so dont want to go too high. The cuts are still sounding ok if i sweep away th...

Hi Lulu I have been heating myshank blanks to 25 degrees as I read it on here somewhere and it has been working fine. But please correct me or anyone correct me if I am wrong. I have got about 12grams on stylus but might increase as apparently helps if the swarf is thicker is picks up by the vacuum ...

Ah wow. I have seen differences in the swarf from time to time. So it could be that. I am having good result ls with cutting myshank blanks at 25-27 degrees. Not as hot as before. And using my new pump and also fixed up the swarf jar so has no leaks. I think the wieght is about 12 grams. But it's ha...

Hello

OK got it thanks for the advice.!

Nik

Hello I use a piece of hessian cloth as a filter in my swarf jar on the hose going to the pump. This is to stop swarf getting sucked out from the jar into the pump. Indeed the swarf builds up around this filter desperate to get to the pump. I was wondering if I am doing this right? Is the filter sto...

I do find black blanks are quieter. Although, clear shouldn't be giving you a huge noise floor difference unless your stylus is coming to an end. Make sure to measure heat from outside of the blank and heat from outside, clears take forever to heat up. Hi Sorry it been a while since you wrote this....

Hello everyone Does anyone have an opinion for the best temperature for myshank blanks when cutting with diamond. I have stylus heating (quite low) and heat the blank up with a lamp to about 32 degrees. But I have heard that 25 is a good temperature. I think I get a better cut with heat but more swa...

I am getting a bit of swarf drop (but could be other reasons). I use a general electric vacuum pump, thats makes a big rattle. its about 4.5cfm supposedly.
So am just looking into a new one

Hello My current vacuum pump is getting old and making more noise than it used to. So I have been looking at new pumps. I noticed that 2 stage pumps are twice as expensive as 1 stage. I understand that 2 stage pumps have have 2 fans/rotors in them, and are said to have a deeper vacuum. I was wonderi...