The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning

Ed Nisley's Blog: Shop notes, electronics, firmware, machinery, 3D printing, laser cuttery, and curiosities. Contents: 100% human thinking, 0% AI slop.

The New Hotness

  • Mini-Lathe vs. Case-Hardened Shaft

    While doodling a drag knife holder for the Sherline, I figured a 3/8 inch shaft would hold all the parts and fit neatly into a standard Sherline tool holder, which it did:

    Sherline Diamond Drag Holder - installed
    Sherline Diamond Drag Holder – installed

    Having recently upcycled a 3/8 inch shaft from the Thing-O-Matic into a pen holder for the CNC 3018-XL, I cut off another section with an abrasive wheel, then tried to face it off:

    Hardened shaft facing - abrasive step
    Hardened shaft facing – abrasive step

    Although the mini-lathe’s carbide insert gnawed at the shaft’s case-hardened shell, it obviously wasn’t making much progress against that step.

    Back to the abrasive cutoff saw:

    Hardened shaft facing - abrasive flattening
    Hardened shaft facing – abrasive flattening

    Which looked better, although it still wasn’t quite perpendicular to the shaft axis.

    Back to the lathe:

    Hardened shaft facing - lumpy face
    Hardened shaft facing – lumpy face

    Well, it’s better, but it sure ain’t pretty.

    Put gently, the mini-lathe’s lack of rigidity doesn’t help in the least. The compound was a-reelin’ and a-rockin’ on every revolution and eventually turned a slight tilt into a distinct radial step.

    Memo to Self: Dammit, use a brass rod!