I know some people have turned aluminium on a wood lathe.
What tool did you use and what rpm. What I want to do is about 4 inches in diameter.
It is actually the outboard stock rotating handle on my lathe. It is very slightly off centre and I want to adjust it.
John
Slow as you go for speed.
I took my Stewart system and put on a carbide cutter I traded my machinist neighbor for. Worked well, though I suppose your HSS scraping stuff would do as well. Used some of the liquid _soap_ they sell for hands 1/1 with water as lube. Note, I said soap, not detergent.
About 400 rpm, 600 tops. I'd use a round-nose scraper ground from a square HSS machinist's toolbit--1/4" or 5/16" square, held in a setscrew handle. Use a light touch, and with the tool pointed downward so if it grabs, it doesn't dig in. Don't try to rub the bevel as you would with wood--use a scraping cut only. And keep your face away from the handle zone in case you get a catch, so you don't punch yourself in the face. Don't ask me how I know about that!
Ken Grunke
Hi Eddie
You can cut alluminium just fine with hss, a sharp scraper would be fine, but keep your speed down to approx. 200 feet/min and use lots of cutting oil or else the alluminium will stick to your turning tool and then grab, keep your tool rest very close and take real light cuts. hope this is some help to you.
Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo
Eddie Munster wrote:
One more thing Eddie keep your cutter at or a hair below centre if cutting on the outside, at or a hair above centre if cutting inside.
Leo Van Der Loo
Eddie Munster wrote:
Thanks for the help guys. I used my HSS scraper and now the handle/wheel is all trued up. The scraper is no worse for the wear either. It doesn't even show any wear.
Eddie Munster wrote:
Also I ment to add regarding the aluminium handle. I don't think it was made poorly. Just when you tighten up the setscrew, it deforms the shape to an "out of round" condition. This decided on by the pattern of material removal. So if I should ever remove it and replace it, I may then need to repeat this exercise.
and now you've gained knowledge of your equipment, experience with aluminum turning and have one more thing that you can get done without hiring help.. sounds like a great day!
Mac
========================= Remember, HSS was developed for machinists to cut steel at a high speed without suffering from heat damage.
Ken
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