Suggestion - after turning the ball, drill and tap for your threaded rod without removing it from the chuck and screw in your already prepared threaded rod. Now reverse the ball and rod in the chuck and cut off the excess from the ball and re-use your ball turning tool to finish the ball?
Hi Winky, That turned out great. I followed your Video on making the Tap Handle also. It has been really handy for Tapping. I’m sure this Ball Turner will be really handy to have. Thanks for making this Video Winky.😁👍👍
Yeah, the guided tap handle is simple but super handy. I'm sure you've noticed I use it a lot. If you make the ball turner you might consider making the bearing adjustable. (kind of like a drill press quill lock). The one I made works well but it would leave a smoother finish if the bearing was tight.
I made a ball turning jig with a boring head but I made a tool holder to take a round carbide insert on the end, that way you don't have the clearance issues and you can turn a complete ball.
I did the same thing using a 6mm diameter round carbide insert. The ball turner itself is a custom made body with dovetails that fits directly onto my Aloris type toolpost with a rotating shaft in bushings threaded at one end to screw on the boring head.
I like it! The final product fulfills the vision you had for this project. I’ve had thoughts of attempting a similar design for my wood lathe so this may be the inspiration to get on with it. Another excellent video. Thanks. 🥸👍👀👋✅
Two suggestions. 1) gets some small tapered roller bearings for the pivot point. The clearance in my pivot point leaves some surface finish problems. 2) My insert works well but if you can find a small radius insert that is smaller and more narrow it would be better.
I love it! I have looked at A LOT of ball turning device videos but yours is both the simplest and most straight-forward of them all. I have to ask though, is there a way to connect the tool arm without welding? I am not a welder nor do I wish to be.
I like this approach. I've been looking for a simple way to make a ball turning attachment of my own. And this one checks all the boxes on something easier to make and simpler to use. The use of the vertical adjustment of the tool post itself really simplifies the whole design and fabrication process.. One point I can see which might improve the handling at the neck would be to alter how the cutter is mounted. With it centered in the square post you end up rubbing the reduced neck a lot. That's fine if you cut the ball away after. But if making ball end handles of the style used on some machines it would be nice if the insert was offset and angled slightly to one side on the square post. The idea is that the tip of the insert is still in line with the center of the rotation but the post and body of the insert sits off at an angle such that the insert and post are not in the way when you come around to the ball to neck area. If I could post a diagram it would be easy to show.
I agree, I need to experiment on ways to make the cutter and post narrow. I have a 1mm round tip grooving insert that might work okay but the insert is also long and hard to mount. Maybe turning the 1/2" post disaginal.... They also make small round inserts that would mount on a 1/4" rod but the amount of areas being cut is much larger.
When you undercut the stock it would be faster if you cut 45 degree or stepped cuts to remove a lot of the stock and let the tool cut less material. I have used step cuts and actually finish the ball with a file and abrassives.
@@WinkysWorkshop Yes,try the radiused grooving insert but I would think a 3mm diameter rounded nose insert would be more suitably robust to withstand the side thrust loads.
I normally start with a piece of stock a little oversized for the ball I want and drill and tap the hole for the rod the ball will sit on. Then I use a threaded arbor to hold the stock and create the ball. You can get almost a full size ball with that setup
This is a good start but I'm sure you'll find more improvements yet with round or radiused nose inserts. For the DCMT 55 degree type insert you can quite easily cut a profiled 55 degree pocket in the tool holder using a 3 mm end mill or slot drill....there just needs to be a circular pocket hole at the non cutting end to clear the rearward facing point of the insert.
I'm not sure the insert actually needs a socket to sit in. The current insert has a very small radius tip which is a bit less demanding with cutting force. A larger radius would be smoother cutting as long as it doesn't chatter. I have some grooving inserts with a round tip that might work well just more difficult to mount.
Mr Winky, treat yourself to a turning tool that take round carbide inserts, great for finishing welds in the lathe nice half round edge, great YT content 👍
As always a splendid video. But he'll, why don't you adapt to metric as the rest of the world? I wish you told your measurements in metric. Cheers mate from 🇸🇪
That was interesting to watch. It's always good to do some experimenting.
Thanks! Yeah, there is still room for improvement. a couple of tapered bearings on the pivot would make it cut smoother and maybe a smaller insert.
Great work on ball turners.I made the "Quick and dirty" one and I like it.Thank you Marc.
Nice - Sometimes that is the most logical.
Suggestion - after turning the ball, drill and tap for your threaded rod without removing it from the chuck and screw in your already prepared threaded rod. Now reverse the ball and rod in the chuck and cut off the excess from the ball and re-use your ball turning tool to finish the ball?
That would work. Another person said to use a threaded arbor to turn the ball on which is also a good idea as long as the hole size is large enough.
Hello Winky, that's a cool tool, thanks for sharing. Cheers from me. 😃👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks
Hi Winky, That turned out great. I followed your Video on making the Tap Handle also. It has been really handy for Tapping. I’m sure this Ball Turner will be really handy to have. Thanks for making this Video Winky.😁👍👍
Yeah, the guided tap handle is simple but super handy. I'm sure you've noticed I use it a lot. If you make the ball turner you might consider making the bearing adjustable. (kind of like a drill press quill lock). The one I made works well but it would leave a smoother finish if the bearing was tight.
Very nice. Simple and efficient. One more item to put on my To Do List. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks
I made a ball turning jig with a boring head but I made a tool holder to take a round carbide insert on the end, that way you don't have the clearance issues and you can turn a complete ball.
I did the same thing using a 6mm diameter round carbide insert.
The ball turner itself is a custom made body with dovetails that fits directly onto my Aloris type toolpost with a rotating shaft in bushings threaded at one end to screw on the boring head.
The smallest round insert has a much larger radius than the insert I used. I was worried about chatter. Maybe I need to try it.
Great video winky, keep'um coming.
Thank you! Will do!
Great job. You definitely got balls.😉
Several... ha
Nice I like that design, simple, and compact
Thanks. its not perfect but works well. A smaller insert and better bearings would make is a little better.
Nice work.
Thanks for sharing. 👍
Thank you! Cheers!
I like it! The final product fulfills the vision you had for this project. I’ve had thoughts of attempting a similar design for my wood lathe so this may be the inspiration to get on with it. Another excellent video. Thanks. 🥸👍👀👋✅
A wood lathe would be more forgiving I think. Thanks
Nice job, as always!
🇬🇧
Thank you! Cheers!
Very nice work. I need to make one myself. Thanks
Two suggestions. 1) gets some small tapered roller bearings for the pivot point. The clearance in my pivot point leaves some surface finish problems. 2) My insert works well but if you can find a small radius insert that is smaller and more narrow it would be better.
Very interesting, good thinking using the QCTP to adjust the height above center. Thanks mate.
It worked out well. Thanks
I have a hardinge ball turner, works great!
Hardinge is high quality stuff. I'm sure works well.
I love it! I have looked at A LOT of ball turning device videos but yours is both the simplest and most straight-forward of them all. I have to ask though, is there a way to connect the tool arm without welding? I am not a welder nor do I wish to be.
You could make the arm triangle shaped and bolt it together. It only needs to be small where its cutting.
I like this approach. I've been looking for a simple way to make a ball turning attachment of my own. And this one checks all the boxes on something easier to make and simpler to use. The use of the vertical adjustment of the tool post itself really simplifies the whole design and fabrication process.. One point I can see which might improve the handling at the neck would be to alter how the cutter is mounted. With it centered in the square post you end up rubbing the reduced neck a lot. That's fine if you cut the ball away after. But if making ball end handles of the style used on some machines it would be nice if the insert was offset and angled slightly to one side on the square post. The idea is that the tip of the insert is still in line with the center of the rotation but the post and body of the insert sits off at an angle such that the insert and post are not in the way when you come around to the ball to neck area. If I could post a diagram it would be easy to show.
I agree, I need to experiment on ways to make the cutter and post narrow. I have a 1mm round tip grooving insert that might work okay but the insert is also long and hard to mount. Maybe turning the 1/2" post disaginal.... They also make small round inserts that would mount on a 1/4" rod but the amount of areas being cut is much larger.
When you undercut the stock it would be faster if you cut 45 degree or stepped cuts to remove a lot of the stock and let the tool cut less material. I have used step cuts and actually finish the ball with a file and abrassives.
@@WinkysWorkshop Yes,try the radiused grooving insert but I would think a 3mm diameter rounded nose insert would be more suitably robust to withstand the side thrust loads.
@@howardosborne8647 You may be right but the tool insert I have is designed for side cutting also.
@@gvet47 That would work well.
Nice job
Thanks!
That’s a darned good idea knowing the exact distance each turn of the tailstock results in. I’m gonna measure that.
Yeah, I use that all the time. I assume most lathes are 10 TPI. My logan was 10TPI also. Of course an import would be metric.
Nice job!
Thanks!
I normally start with a piece of stock a little oversized for the ball I want and drill and tap the hole for the rod the ball will sit on. Then I use a threaded arbor to hold the stock and create the ball. You can get almost a full size ball with that setup
Excellent idea! Thanks
Nice!👍
Thanks! 👍
ERES UN MAKINA AMIGO .COMO AGUDIZAS EL INGENIO TODO BUENO
Gracious.
Nice, Mark.
Thanks
This is a good start but I'm sure you'll find more improvements yet with round or radiused nose inserts.
For the DCMT 55 degree type insert you can quite easily cut a profiled 55 degree pocket in the tool holder using a 3 mm end mill or slot drill....there just needs to be a circular pocket hole at the non cutting end to clear the rearward facing point of the insert.
I'm not sure the insert actually needs a socket to sit in. The current insert has a very small radius tip which is a bit less demanding with cutting force. A larger radius would be smoother cutting as long as it doesn't chatter. I have some grooving inserts with a round tip that might work well just more difficult to mount.
Mr Winky, treat yourself to a turning tool that take round carbide inserts, great for finishing welds in the lathe nice half round edge, great YT content 👍
That would be super for welds (I need to get one) but the ball turner really needs a smaller radius to limit cutting forces.
Sweet 😊
Thanks!
A good simple design Winky, have you seen the Turnado Freehand Metal Turning System from Eccentric Engineering ?, it's interesting.
Sounds interesting, I may have. I'll check that out. thanks!
Yeah... just checked it out. I saw Blondie hack do a video on it. A little slow and even scary but it seems to work well.
good job
Thanks
Engineering drawing / sketch would be nice.
As always a splendid video. But he'll, why don't you adapt to metric as the rest of the world? I wish you told your measurements in metric. Cheers mate from 🇸🇪
Haha... because inch is better! My wife said I have an infected brain. But seriously, good idea. It might also help me be more intuitive with metric.
We Americans are too difficult to adapt to the metric system. A "Royale" with cheese?" Please🤣
Nice invent another wey for ball turning
Thanks