Clamp knurl tool project

[Lewis_RX8]

First of all thanks to @Kram for sending the knurl wheels through and giving me the idea for this project it was really good for learning a few things on the lathe and mill and gave me a project to fill in time between other bigger ones hence why it has taken so long.

So this was the rough idea , I wrote down the dimensions later , I was aiming to copy this type of clamp style tool rather than just a push tool as at the time I only had the mini lathe at home and did not have the ridigity or bearings to push that much force so went for a clamp so the force is on the workpiece sqeezing it.

Aplogies for the intermittent photos it got to a point of getting a little carried away working and forgetting to take the phone out and record but you get the idea

Got my bars cut out of a long bit of 10mm flat bar I have from a scrapyard and milled these all down to square

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Then it was time to make room for the knurl wheel to sit , As i have quite a small mill I try to remove as much material with drills and cutting before using the milling cutters to do the finishing cuts rather than plunging into a big deep cut.

I also had to do some work with the files and hacksaw aswell just to tidy bits up etc such as removing the small bit in the last photo.

So after making the two arms I made the main strut with was alot nicer to machine on the outside taking small cuts rather than cutting the slots for knurl wheels as it was harder to do smaller cuts. it gave me the rough idea assembled and was quite pleased with it

Ran out of photo space so i will continue in next post

 

[Lewis_RX8]

So next up was machining some little bushing type pins for the knurl wheels to spin around instead of spinning around a threaded bolt as I wanted the benefits of a pin without having to take a big chunk of metal out of the bar holding the wheel for the pin to sit in.

Then I drilled 4 holes to hold the whole assembly together which I clearly got carried away with and forgot to photograph

Starting to come along now into more of a tool

Next the actual clamping part needed to be made

So drilled aligned holes then made the radius for the nuts to sit agaisnt

The bottom nut was tapped and the top left slighter larger to allow the threaded section to slide up and down , Then a slot was milled to allow the bolt to change angle as the knurl bars come closer or apart

Then the tool post holder section was made and not photographed again whoops , Just milled it flat and then drilled some holes for bolts as I imagine I may need to adapt the size for when my new triumph lathe arrives.

 

[Lewis_RX8]

I also still need to trim the bolts holding it together and sort a new nut and other few small cosmetic things however thats it mostly done so was time for a test

The first-ever knurl I have cut on the mini-lathe so not sure exactly what I am looking for but I see it is quite fine knurl wheels and creates a smaller grip however really pleased with it seem to be even and aligned enough and any issues may be more down to user error or tool error.

A really good project just to spend some spare time in between bigger projects I would be able to make one or two bits for this than over a while get it built up and try out some new techniques and tools so worth building, not the most amazing finishes off the mill or fitment but I can just call that rustic and homemade or something

 

[Kram]

Looks good! It just needs a big knurled adjusting nut to finish

 

[selectedgrub]

This is awesome, thanks for taking the time to share.
It saddens me to see the thread with only 1 reply.

 

[brightspark]

This is awesome, thanks for taking the time to share.
It saddens me to see the thread with only 1 reply.

theres a fair amount of likes so nuff said

 

[selectedgrub]

Likes are for facebook.

 

[brightspark]

Likes are for facebook.

wouldn't know i dont go on it

 

[Lewis_RX8]

Looks good! It just needs a big knurled adjusting nut to finish

Got halfway with making that tonight don't you worry cant be having a ugly wing nut sitting there

This is awesome, thanks for taking the time to share.
It saddens me to see the thread with only 1 reply.

Thanks , It's more for some inspiration as well to others I thought it was an interesting project that I would use a lot so worth spending the time on and learnt a lot from it. It was also good as can be done on small machines without that much material so if you mess up as I did no big deal to restart which all makes it a good beginner project imo.

Better to make a tool than a paperweight In my opinion even if it only saved me £30 of buying a new one from china it's not about that.

Likes are for facebook.

wouldn't know i dont go on it

Done my best to avoid the place aswell lol.

 

[Agroshield]

I am glad you made proper half-barrel parts to go under the adjusting bolt. The picture of the Assorts one does not have it.

On the picture of the knurl you made, it looks like the pitch of the one going down-to-the-right is coarser than the down-to-the-left one. But in other pictures the knurl wheels look identical.

 

[Lewis_RX8]

Looks good! It just needs a big knurled adjusting nut to finish

Good idea , used knurl to too make a knurl tools lol

Not my best knurls but still improving technique and will watch some videos later

 

[8ob]

Lewis that knurling tool is impressive

Last time I used a knurling tool it was to replace the plastic handles on some of those cheap not so pound through lever bars, the bars are ok but the handles are rubbish.

Bob

 

[daleyd]

Looks great nice job mate

 

[Ali]

Excellent work, your headstock bearings will thank you.

 

[RichardM]

Put some spanner flats on the adjuster.

 

[Kram]

Looks good!

Yeah spanner flats are needed aswell. To get a single tracking pattern it needs to be done up tight so that the next revolution, the wheels will follow the previous track. No need for fancy calculations. The only trouble with mine is my toolpost can turn as I move along, if its too tight.

For smaller bars your going to need a through hole on the nut

Last comment is that, after checking mine, the knurl wheels are sitting on press fitted pins, so theres no screw and nut sticking out - good for going close to chuck.

 

[Lewis_RX8]

Lewis that knurling tool is impressive

Last time I used a knurling tool it was to replace the plastic handles on some of those cheap not so pound through lever bars, the bars are ok but the handles are rubbish.

Bob

Thanks , Yea not a tool thats used day in day out but when you need one not much else can do the job.

Put some spanner flats on the adjuster.

Looks good!

Yeah spanner flats are needed aswell. To get a single tracking pattern it needs to be done up tight so that the next revolution, the wheels will follow the previous track. No need for fancy calculations. The only trouble with mine is my toolpost can turn as I move along, if its too tight.

For smaller bars your going to need a through hole on the nut

Last comment is that, after checking mine, the knurl wheels are sitting on press fitted pins, so theres no screw and nut sticking out - good for going close to chuck.

Good ideal I'll get it on the mill and add some of them

Hmm may need to cross that bridge when we come to it and change out for some m6 thread bar.

Was hoping to cut off the sticky out bolts and maybe peen them over for when I'm 100% done and happy with it however for ease of messing about with it at the moment its all nut and bolt.

Looks great nice job mate

Excellent work, your headstock bearings will thank you.

Thanks chaps , They really will and the whole machine is not the most rididig setup so hard to even get that much pressure to push on much happier with clamping.

 

[RichardM]

The only trouble with mine is my toolpost can turn as I move along, if its too tight.

I find that happens too, although I have just fitted a needle roller thrust bearing under the tightening handle which should increase holding torque, I haven't knurled since.
If you want it to be longer without the risk of the toolpost moving just do it in stages with recesses in between the knurled rings.

Just to show what I mean!

 

[roofman]

Likes are for facebook.

2 posts later...

Reactions: Kram, brightspark and selectedgrub

 

[Lewis_RX8]

I find that happens too, although I have just fitted a needle roller thrust bearing under the tightening handle which should increase holding torque, I haven't knurled since.
If you want it to be longer without the risk of the toolpost moving just do it in stages with recesses in between the knurled rings. View attachment 316088
Just to show what I mean!

Ah a thrust bearing , good design idea there