Smithy Midas 1220 XL - Manual (Page 49)

Figure 10.2 The harder the steel (left),the less above center you set the cutter point.
For soft brass and aluminum (right), set the cutter on dead center.
When cutting toward the headstock on most turning and threading operations, swing the
compound rest to hold the shank of the toolholder at an angle. The angle should be
approximately 29-1/2° left of perpendicular to the line of centers, except for extremely
heavy, rough-forcing cuts close to the limits. For such work, use a straight-shanked tool
held perpendicular to the line of lathe centers in the right side of the toolpost. The tool
will tend to swing out of the cut rather than hog into the work if you reach a stalling
point (Figure 10.3)
Figure 10.3 The tool will swing out of the cut (left) rather than hog into the work (right) if
you reach a stalling point. Note the tool is in the right-hand side of the toolpost.
Threading Tools
Threading tools should always engage the work on dead center. Any deviation above or
below will affect the thread profile (Figure 10.4).
Figure 10.4 Threading tools engage the work on dead center.
Setting Up Lathe Tools
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