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Program to calculate the XY's for arc and ball cutting on a manual l

Long Tom

Stainless
Joined
Aug 21, 2011
Location
Fiddlefart, Oregon
I need to cut some cosmetically repeatable arcs into aluminum on my 17x40 Webb lathe. One method I've seen mentioned uses a program that calculates the arc in XY's and then you do plunge cuts every (say) .10" and finish with a file. I can't find a link to such a program as my search results are all CNC related. Anyone got a link? Thanks!
 
Here are a couple of old links showing the simple math and process. Any shape body of revolution can be accurately produced by the method, it's manual CNC. We knew how to do this long before CNC. The first link shows a ball end going to a convex radius transition into a tapered shaft. It's easy if you do the math.

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/monarch-lathes/new-set-levers-155215/

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/monarch-lathes/new-set-10ee-knobs-devils-details-163567/

Chose your step intervals with respect to the curvature of your workpiece and the means you'll use to remove and fair the waste material. Minimize the material left in other words, it makes for a faster and better job.
 








 
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