Modular tool post issue.

[adrspach]

Hi all. I have set of modular tool posts and having problems that even thought I fastenned them realy tight with work vibration they gettting unexpectedly loose ( Possibly me being begginer too heavy with my work or bearings starting to go) where the T-bar meets the post. I tried the thred locker but with not much joy. Any tricks you can suggests or is better just to ditch them and get solid tool posts? Thank you

 

[johnwalls26]

Could you post pictures of the lathe rest set up please. No bearings are involved and the two main modular systems on sale in the UK are very solid when correctly set up. Are you in a woodturning club?

 

[adrspach]

I will do. I am not a memeber due to time restrictions/too many Jobs and hobbies.

 

[adrspach]

Here are the pics. It looks like that the diameter of the post in point of the attachement is too big for the hole in the rest itself. There is already a burr developing as I a trying to tighten it.

 

[johnwalls26]

I have both Sorby and Axminster tool posts and have not had this problem. One brand is known to be . more interchangeable than the other It would be best to replace for safety. You could try to degrease both threads and examine closely for damage. Use the blue type theadlock. or consider ptfe tape. Is the lathe firmly bolted down? With a correct set up there shouldn't be noticeable vibration on a well centred blank. https://turnawoodbowl.com/wood-lathe-vibration-solutions-bowl-turning-smoothly/#:~:text=Wood

 

[Inspector]

If new contact the seller and see if they will exchange them for another set or get your money back.

If you can't do that put the tool post in a chuck and turn the lathe at low speed and dress down the raised ridge that has formed with the edge of a file. Make sure it has a handle on or you can get the tang driven deep into your hand, wrist or forearm. With the unthreaded area reduced it should thread in deeper.

If that doesn't work get someone to weld it on and find some steel bar to make other posts and have them welded to the remaining rests.

Pete

 

[Sachakins]

You are not just mismatching the rests and posts ?
I don't think they're interchangeable. Should always be Sorby rest to Sorby post and Axi rest to Axi post.

I have Sorby posts and rests and never had a problem.

 

[Mike Fletcher]

I have the Axminster version and it stays tight, no problem with two different rest's.

 

[adrspach]

I got this all second hand therefore no warranty.
My set up is FU-180which is raised 150mm by combination of the machine adjustable legs sitting on top of a wooden beam. I have added a shelf to between legs made out of wood and double granite worktop to add weight as I could not anchor the lathe to the floor. This added another about 70kg of weight. I will try the paper trick if one of teh legs did not get loose. Saying that I can not hear any vibration when is running empty.
I will try to file down the burr as suggested and check the diameter to compare it with known Axi post I have access to.

 

[johnwalls26]

It might be worth contacting Simon Hope who imports that lathe and also offers a modular tool post system. The Axminster Excaliber posts are etched; Sorby have the spanner shoulders lower down the shank and there are differences around the thread seating which if mismatched could be where the problem is. If you compare photographs of the different makes unassembled you will spot them. Have you any one piece rests for it or other length modular rests?

 

[Duncan A]

Looks to me like the thread is bottoming out in the hole

 

[Vulcan]

You are not just mismatching the rests and posts ?
I don't think they're interchangeable. Should always be Sorby rest to Sorby post and Axi rest to Axi post.

I have Sorby posts and rests and never had a problem.

I’m not 100% on this but I believe someone said you can use both rests on only one of the posts? Sadly I can’t remember which one!

 

[Sachakins]

I’m not 100% on this but I believe someone said you can use both rests on only one of the posts? Sadly I can’t remember which one!

Unless it's been changed in last few years, the thread pitches are not the same, but very close, so one would go on the other, but it would damage over time or loosen in use.

 

[adrspach]

Took my posts (I have 2 + 1 Axi) apart and comared to Axi. Those 2 were 0.6mm bigger that Axi one, From looking on them they possibly could be either cheepy no name or home made. Also mesured holes in rests and have one which is even smaller than the Axi post by 0.1mm.
I have filed downd the burr and a bit bellow it that it now fits fully into the tool rest instead of sitting just on 2 points at the start of the hole. Will get fresh blue lock tite and hopefully that will be that part done.
Next will be to check the legs for the vibration.

 

[adrspach]

It might be worth contacting Simon Hope who imports that lathe and also offers a modular tool post system. The Axminster Excaliber posts are etched; Sorby have the spanner shoulders lower down the shank and there are differences around the thread seating which if mismatched could be where the problem is. If you compare photographs of the different makes unassembled you will spot them. Have you any one piece rests for it or other length modular rests?

3 years ago my communication with Simon Hope was goo but since then it went down. I am still waiting for their call back as I left a message that i wanted to buy some bits for my lathe.
As in my response above there is already report on the seating mismatch.
I have the original wide one piece which can be a bit pain as most of my learning and experimenting is around smaller pieces of work ( Bowls up to 10" and spindlework op to 14") where it is easier to manage shorter posts easier.

 

[Vulcan]

I saw this online.

Axminster: Stainless Steel post with M12x1.25 thread. Thread depth 9.0mm. The collar below the threaded section is, on the example I measured with a micrometer, 14.1mm diameter and around 5.9mm deep. Spanner flats are a little under 19mm.


Robert Sorby: Non stainless steel post also with M12x1.25 thread. Thread depth 9.4mm. The collar below the threaded section is 14.85mm diameter and around 4.9mm deep. Spanner flats are a little under 22mm.


This means that Robert Sorby Rests will fit both Sorby and Axminster tool posts. Due to the smaller recess though Axminster Rests will Not fit the Sorby post.

Personally I’d stick to putting the correct rest on each post. Hopefully the above information will aid identification. There’s no guarantee though that someone has made their own rests to fit these posts!

 

[Robbo3]

I saw this online.

Axminster: Stainless Steel post with M12x1.25 thread. Thread depth 9.0mm. The collar below the threaded section is, on the example I measured with a micrometer, 14.1mm diameter and around 5.9mm deep. Spanner flats are a little under 19mm.


Robert Sorby: Non stainless steel post also with M12x1.25 thread. Thread depth 9.4mm. The collar below the threaded section is 14.85mm diameter and around 4.9mm deep. Spanner flats are a little under 22mm.


This means that Robert Sorby Rests will fit both Sorby and Axminster tool posts. Due to the smaller recess though Axminster Rests will Not fit the Sorby post.

Personally I’d stick to putting the correct rest on each post. Hopefully the above information will aid identification. There’s no guarantee though that someone has made their own rests to fit these posts!

Thank you.
I knew the Sorby rests were M12 x 1.25 & I have a suitable die to clean or repair the threads but I didn't know about the Axminster threads & interchangeability.

 

[Vulcan]

Thank you.
I knew the Sorby rests were M12 x 1.25 & I have a suitable die to clean or repair the threads but I didn't know about the Axminster threads & interchangeability.

That was a while back. Hopefully they haven’t changed the threads. Also, the Sorby rests may fit the Axminster post but will it be secure?