Consider that in this group we have had a fair amount of complaining about and reasons not to buy a US QC toolpost(with holders) for $100.? Now here we have a Swiss toolpost for more than 300GBP with one toolholder.
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> I am not familiar with the Tripan. Is this an item that was in
> production in the past? It looks quite small and useful.
>
> Dick
The original Tripan came from Switzerland.
http://anglo-swiss-tools.co.uk/tripan-tool-posts/
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Hi Clark,
I am not familiar with the Tripan. Is this an item that was in production in the past? It looks quite small and useful.
Dick
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Lol. I used the 4-way toolpost on my mini lathe for many years. It’s on a Hobbymat now.
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Here is a homemade toolpost, sort of copied from a Tripan, that I sometimes use on the Unimat. It’s a nice design that’s great when there’s not much space. Real ones seem to sell for a lot more than I want to spend, and I don’t think there are any cheaper copies being imported.
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It’s a lot more robust than the regular piston design but not more complicated to make. OldToolmaker’s will be simpler to make than either one.
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I like the standard Unimat toolpost, too! But ones like lantern/rocker toolposts but with an adjusting ring aren’t bad, either.
On Thu, Feb 20, 2020 at 10:57 AM, Bill Williams wrote:
??? ??? I did some preliminary measurements and studies and found that it? possible to adapt a minilathe four position tool turret to the Unimat. This appealed to me because (1), I have used this device on a larger lathe for the last 40 years and (2), every minilathe owner replaces these little turrets with a QC as soon as they can so they are widely available!? ?? Bill in Boulder CO USA
On 2/20/20 11:39 AM, Aron via Groups.Io wrote:
During my restoration of the lathe I did some measurements of parts, ways on the bed and slide specifically, and I came to the conclusion that the lathe didn’t conform to imperial or metric as a whole, the tool post, tail stock and headstock/chuck are configured to inches where as the way bars them self’s are metric, 13mm on the bed 8mm on the slide...?
the tool post holder is configured for inches and specifically 1/4” tool bits, this I found when I purchased a new tool set in 6mm (I couldn’t find 1/4 hss only brased or insert tooling in that dimension) this has lead me to shim the 6mm to center on the chuck...?
a quick change tool post system here would eliminate shimming, especially since different cutting tools require shimming differently at times.
to lay the arguments on what the lathe is configured to it is set to 1/4” tool post so anything 6mm will require shimming, 8mm parts fit in the standard post but they are to high of center.?
To sum up 6mm parts work with ships in my case a coke can cut up into strips took actually 5 shims of that cans thickness to centre the tool bit, which is actually quite a lot when looking at the tool post.
i don’t think it’s fair to complain on the machines limitations given it’s age, it was never designed in the same way a modern mini lathe to do the jobs many of us are probably asking of it, upgrades aside the machine with its limitations can still beat out a mini lathe from China any day of the week!
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sorry,
rereading my text i would like to make some changes: the toolposts i made are exact copies of the unimat model. they are made from simple bar stock. as the toolpost only has a section of 25mm x 25mm and is about 35mm long, it really is not a complicated part to make, nor is it very bulky in the toolbox.
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Hello John,
my solution to this problem was rather simple, although somewhat space consuming: i made myself several toolposts, one for each tool y use. each tool is properly shimmed in its post. as it only needs the one central toolpost screw to be loosened or fastened to change the post (and with it the tool), it is really almost as fast and convenient as a quick change post.
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I forgot to mention this Unimat QC toolpost was featured on the front cover of Model Engineers Workshop issue #183 in 2011.
Dick
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Here is a link to the plans for the Small QC Tool Post for the Unimat.
Dick
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There are some photos of my Small QC Toolpost for the Unimat located in my Photo Gallery on this group.
Just go to my photo gallery named "Old_Toolmaker" Photos. ?It has a red knob on the handle.
Dick
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OOPs sorry I ment to post to the Sherline page about QCTP. I previously? posted a "Norman Patent" QCTP I made 
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I found another Unimat 3 tool picture I forget who sent it to me so no ideas of the size other than it was made for a Unimat 3 I think a milling machine owner could make it fairly easily. . 
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Hi
Gang:
I've
just used 1/4" bits and have never needed to shim any of them.
Carl.
On 2/20/2020 1:07 PM, John Hutnick
wrote:
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I would prefer not to be fiddling with shims each
time I change a tool.? Its fine if you enjoy that kind of thing
as a hobby.? For me, I am slow enough with all sorts of small
work activities.? So a quick change toolpost is better and
quicker.? Can anyone explain why quick change toolposts are not
on every small lathe?? Is there some philosophical or hobbyist
objection?? Or just not to spend money?? If I were to try and
make a toolholder for Kaiser Thinbits, I would be all day(or
several days).
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I like Dike's design of his tool post. Very small, which fits with the styling of the Unimat.
As I am newish to this device, I am not sure how adept I would be on making it myself ... but I am tempted.
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OK, I guess that makes you better than us.
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On Feb 20, 2020, at 13:40, OldToolmaker via Groups.Io <old_toolmaker@...> wrote:
? Some of us like to build tools others prefer?
building trains. Different strokes for different folks. ?I prefer to keep my money in my pocket.
?
Dick
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Now that's info I can use, and in fact I did put it to use. I just bought one of those. Thank you, John.
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On Feb 20, 2020, at 13:28, John Hutnick via Groups.Io <johnhutnick@...> wrote:
? If you search Ebay for seller "hkoesnadi", you will find a quick change tool post with holders for $100.? I have two in service.? If you have any idea that you may need one, buy it now.? They are made in US.? If you want China or India, they are also cheap on Ebay.? To me, there is no need to spend my time to make something like this that I can buy.? I would rather be machining model train?things.
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I use the A2Z CNC? quick change.? Works great for me I use both 1/4 and 5/16 tools on both unimats and a Compact 5.? I wonder if anyone picked up the designs and files for this toolpost and tool holders as it was adaptable to a variety of machines changing the mount.? Could fit sherline Taig Unimat, Compat 5? Asian 7x_?? Some Atlas
Ed
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Some of us like to build tools others prefer?
building trains. Different strokes for different folks. ?I prefer to keep my money in my pocket.
?
Dick
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Re: Unimat SL Circular Saw Arbor
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If you want cost, buy a cheap QC tool post from India or China on Ebay for $30.? Using shims cannot be simpler than a QC toolholder.
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OldToolmaker
Carl
Dennis