Hi All,
I thought this thread would invoke some comments!!
I agonized over the decision to switch to biodiesel but decided that because most of the work that I do is considered "light duty" and low frequency, I would try it. I have 2 fire extinguishers handy but I am comforted by the high flash point of diesel and even higher for biodiesel; and an experiment that my Dad demonstrated to me in the 1950s. He poured some diesel into a 44 gallon drum bung (well away from the drum of diesel) and threw lighted matches into the diesel. It refused to ignite. The same experiment performed with petrol produced predictable results; very exciting for a 6 year old lad.
I always use a fan in my workshop to blow the smoke away from me when cutting. I used to use expensive Rocol cutting oil for heavy cuts in my manual lathe and it gives off similar amounts of very obnoxious smoke.
I still use a water based coolant in my CNC mill as the ways and ball screws are better protected.
As for French fries, biodiesel derived from waste cooking oil when burnt, does indeed have that smell of "fish and chips" about it. The first time I smelt the exhaust of my mate's Toyota Landcruiser, I commented to him that he would be likely to attract cats.
As to the height setting of the tools in the gang tool block, everything is totally dependent on the centreline of the bored 16mm holes being at exactly the same height as the centreline of the lathe. That way, all drilling tools have to be correctly aligned.
The master tool (it is a 35° diamond shaped carbide insert) is mounted in a homemade tool holder. I carefully made sure that the tip of the insert was exactly on the centreline of the tool holder. The same design approach was used for the threading tool holder.
The parting blade holder (not shown in this video) was a bit trickier. It is also homemade and mounted upside down and cuts from the rear side. I fitted an "anti-rotation" block at the rear of the tool holder with 2 x M8 Screws that I adjust to "rock" the tip of the parting blade until it is on the centreline.
The gang tool block is mounted on 2 x Ø32 aluminium blocks, secured by 2 x M8 Caphead screws to the main cross slide tool plate. By careful skimming of the 2 x Ø32 aluminium blocks, I was able to “adjust” the tool tips to be aligned. I checked all tools for correct height and was very pleased to see that theory was correct. I can remove the gang tool block to fit other setups and when I replace the gang setup, I find that tool tip height is 100% repeatable.
Amazing what you can do with Solidworks. You can check that everything fits, does not interfere, moves as designed and intended before you have cut any metal. It invokes a high level of confidence.
Regards
Chrisjh