my Sphere turning jig (home made)

[mike toulouzas]

Hi guys. ;)Well i will put some pic the i took from my sphere turning jig and when i will find time i will add them to my website with some comments.
Maby i will try to upload a video on youtube.I am not sure how i have never done it before.i hope you like it.Its not something special and i am still trying to improve it.

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[mike toulouzas]

and some more...

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[Canuck]

Very cool jig Mike!!!  How much for you to make me one 

[mike toulouzas]

any body can make it
Well i manage to make a youtube video
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHYp353gaFA

[Canuck]

Seriously Mike, that's an awesome jig, and just what I was looking for    I really like the handle for turning in the cutter head, that's a very nice modification   

I couldn't make a jig like that    Make me one PLEASE!!! 

[Chinnomotto]

John boy, John Boy'

I am trying to sucker the Cowboy up north to make one, failing that, my engineering friend might do it

Depends on whether you are mass producing these things, and if you are planning turning loose pieces like the Domino  Tower,

I don't think its that easy,( you are turning against the grain) The ball , in my opinion, has to be solid

Also these jigs are to fit your banjo exactly, and while doing so the height is fixed dead centre. All lathes varies in height, and banjos

Make the home made one my hero David S uses, good enough, or I can send you a pic of my rough as guts one

Can email his instructions  too ,if you want

I have a plan that does the gross reductions quickly and the finish minimum sanding. along with a longer sprue to lower wastage.

Takes 1/2 the time, otherwise zzzzzz, double cutter, 1 fixed on the jig, the other you hold and do the gross reduction, ie you want a wider platform on the fixed jig section. Show you a pic soon

End of the day, they all work, its just how much and how efficient,and how many balls do you want,,,10 x 10 pyramids, or 90 icosahedrons!!

Just a suggestion, as Trooper hasn't bought a lathe yet, slight delay, What do you think MT??

[Canuck]

Okay,,,,,,seen all your pics, you're one freakin' crazy lathe dude!!!

You're not very patient are you?  I'm not sure I want something with two cutters, I'd make do with one cutter, slow maybe but less chance of a blow out    I think the key thing is having a 'carbide' cutter at the business end...so who's makin' it?

[Chinnomotto]

I'm still waiting, and turning blue

Ring cutter angled10 degree is the way to go, real smooth finish

Always sharp, turn it a bit or flip over

That cowboy's wife got him the variable speed Jet, I'm turning green now

Hes keen on the ball turner come thread cutter, be patient, and hes a metal man

Slight twikking  on Mike Ts jig and it'll be perfect

[Johan Heyns]

Slight twikking  on Mike Ts jig and it'll be perfect

Chinny, I agree.  I would change the angle of the cutter so that when you get towards the headstock side, the cutter can still get in there without bumping against the workpiece or headstock.  On the second batch of pictures Mike posted, the second one from the top show what I mean.  If the cutter was perpendicular to the turning axis at that point, it would work easier I think.  My 2 cents worth.

[Canuck]

be patient

Okay, but how long before we see a prototype from 'Trooper'

[Chinnomotto]

Not wrong there Johan,
On one of the links, there was a longer spur attachment. I actually used a MT2 ( my lathe) to Mt1 attachment, and have a MT1 spur
and it did the trick, also wind the tailstock longer

Never perfect but at least it cuts a ball leaving less to clean up. I still like to chuck mine at the headstock, cut the  ball and remove the tailstok and finish that  1 side perfect. Good if you are making 3 or 4 balls off the same stock

And the ring cutter gives the smoothest finish, cost $A10, cheaper than HSS, last you a hundred balls easy. If we all pester Trooper, and bribe him a 6 pack, he'll shake a leg and get moving. Hes keen, reckon it'll be his 1st project.

[Canuck]

Ou Toppie is workin' on a drawing right now so....maybe he'll post it here once it's done

The measurements will be specific to my lathe but they should be easily modified to suit any lathe

[cubefan]

Hello Mike

which part of an airplane did you use for that fantastic jig ?

kalimera
Bernhard

[Canuck]

Mike, please don't use any 'Airplane' parts, I think they're needed to keep them in the air!

[cubefan]

Hi John and Mike

don`t be worry I think it was a part of an very old and unused Starfighter from the 80`s

happy puzzling and turning
Bernhard