Once I parted aluminium successfuly, like a piece of butter, since then I have had to use a hack saw for aluminium or steel.
Yesterday I had to part off some aluminum (6061), 24mm diameter, and remembered that I had had endless trouble previously with this operation - regardless of material.
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So this time I took off the quick change toolpost and re-installed the original four-way.? The parting off process went smoothly with none of the problems I'd encountered before.? It did get jammed once - I was running the motor too slowly.? (I don't have a low gear anymore.)? Didn't matter if I used oil or not, or went fast or slow.? It was as easy as any other operation.
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Something about how the QC extends over the compound - one of the weak parts of these lathes - lessens the rigidity necessary to do this operation well.
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-Mike
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