New Machine Shop-made Tools

In this episode I share some thoughts behind the design of my latest shop made tools and show how they are used.
Among them are a short taper comparison gauge, a threading or tapping adapter with friction clutch for the milling machine, an oxy-acetylene cart and a quite universal chamfering tool.
0:00 Intro
1:20 Short Taper comparison Gauge
5:54 Threading or tapping Adapter
14:50 Oxy-Acetylene Cart
18:07 Chamfering Tool

[@rok1475]

Re: bushings for the tapping tool-these are called ball spline bushings. They are available from a few manufacturers as a spline, outer race or a matched assembly.

[@thecanadiantradesman7916]

How's it going. I know it's been quite some time since you've posted this video but it would be really interesting to see a build video of the taping follower you made. I realize you would be duplicating the current one you already have but I believe you have a very unique tool that I think many hobby machinists and veterans alike could benefit from this, especially anyone with a mill that doesn't have any quill feed like a horizontal mill with a standard vertical head. In any case thanks for sharing your builds and ideas. I hope to see some more videos in the future. I keep returning to your channel to re-watch your build videos to keep my mind open to alternativ solutions to problems I encounter and it helps me alot. Thanks again for taking the time to do so.

[@JamesDHendrickson]

So much care and meticulous attention to detail goes into everything you make. Thank you so much for sharing your work with us!

[@anengineersfindings]

My pleasure, James, and thank you for your nice comment.

[@robscully3312]

Hi Alex, delighted to see you back after such a long time. I really enjoy your content as i am a tool maker here in England.

[@valkman761]

You're just working on another level compared to anyone on this platform. Thank you for sharing your ideas and knowledge, from of which each and every one was pure genius at work.

[@anengineersfindings]

Many thanks for your kind words, Sir! ATB, Alex

[@kioliex]

Great tools you have made. Can you maybe make a video where you explain more in details about the threading adapter. I would like to know how the clutch works.

[@than_vg]

Of course, built videos for these lovely tools would be super interesting!

[@hanslang3764]

Like your videos a lot! As an engineer myself I can truly feel the need and satisfaction when building my own tools. Looking forward to your next video!

[@Nyson]

Dry nice. Please more videos if you are able.

[@paulbuckberry7683]

Very clever.

[@JesseSchoch]

thanks for sharing this!

[@Steve_Just_Steve]

Always enjoy your videos, thanks

[@DK-vx1zc]

very clever, very useful tools for the shop! Thanks for sharing

[@googleuser859]

Excellent workmanship as always, thanks for sharing.

[@465maltbie]

Neat idea on the tap chuck. Thanks for sharing. Charles

[@jimsvideos7201]

Very well done!

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Nice tools Alex, well done. Thank you for sharing.

[@madsbruun8423]

Hi Alex good to have you back. Just looked through your old videos. Really enjoy your content. Keep em coming 👌🏻

[@DavidHerscher]

Holy smokes, that tapping tool is fantastic!

[@broheim23]

Excellent video, Alex! 👍

[@petera1033]

Elegant design for a thin piece chamfering tool - well thought out - also the threading adapter is neat

[@bradthayer6782]

Very clever and well thought out tools Alex! Hope you are doing well and getting by day to day.

[@ebrewste]

Great video, as always!

[@Elektronaut]

Schön wieder was Neues zu sehen! Diese Fasenfräsmaschine ist echt genial

[@TomChame]

Very very neat, thanks.

[@TheKnacklersWorkshop]

Hello Alex, I really like the threading and tapping adaptor...thanks for sharing... Take care. Paul,,

[@vandeweb]

Thank you for the gauge idea. I've struggled to make accurate adapter plates for my Emco lathe. This will help!

[@stevecanny1583]

Very nice job Alex, and great design too! :)

[@kisoia]

Thanks for the video, your chamfer tools is first rate! Would love to see more detail of the internal parts :)

[@taranson3057]

Nice projects you have created

[@JohnSL]

Those are some very cool tools. I'd love to learn more of the details for the tapping adapter, such as a link to the clutch. You also mentioned you had to make some modifications, but I didn't catch what they were.

[@arnljotseem8794]

Me too. And also some more details on the slip clutch. So happy for a new video from you Alex. Always quality content.

[@vibram500]

same here...I hope we will have more information

[@anengineersfindings]

Hi gents, the friction clutch I use in the tapping head is a very simple one, but I want to test it's endurance a little more before I give a recommendation to you. The part I use as clutch is not intended for that particular use, you know. I just want to make sure it's a good solution.

[@vibram500]

@@anengineersfindings is possible to have at least the reference for information? Thanks a lot

[@lohikarhu734]

just thinking that, if you had a small magnet on the 'top' of the adapter, it would hold the adapter in place, as lightly as per design, so that you don't need to hold it after inserting it into the quill, as you lower the quill to the contact point... s magnet on a short spring, so that you can simply lower the quill into contact, and the spring supplies the initial 'drive' force to put the tap into the work...if you sized spring and magnet for each range of taps, you could have quite soft, or quite stiff, engagement of the staring force on the tap...just a couple of thoughts. 🍁🐻‍❄

[@tomjungst1880]

" Came from a Stone age camp" made me laugh!

[@anengineersfindings]

;D

[@tomjungst1880]

I spent a summer in Fussen, on a walk came upon a medieval camp and festival. When I asked about this and commented, “Wow, this is cool, how often do you do this?” The answer was “Every weekend.”

[@DonStinger]

Really nice tools you build there! I noticed on the deburring tool that the movement of the adjustment screw is transfered at 45° to the guide pin. I am really curious to see the inside of this tool. Would you mind showing this in an upcoming video?

[@AaronEngineering]

Hi Alex. Love the trimmer router idea. Very clever indeed. To be honest I’m still blown away by your dividing head video and use of theodolite to obtain the accurate angle. Mind blowing stuff mate. Cheers 🍻. Aaron

[@anengineersfindings]

Many thanks for your kind comment, Aaron. I'm glad you like my content. Best Regards!

[@TechNebulous]

Very nice tools... would love to see the build videos...

[@nowayjerk8064]

NICE. REALLY LIKE THE BURR VERY SLICK

[@bobvines00]

Alex, good to see you back and I'm looking forward to your next videos. I'm a Mechanical Engineer, now retired, and I really enjoy watching your explanations of your thoughts about why you design something the way you do, the way you machine & manufacture/fabricate it, and then use it! Hopefully you will have time to make more videos in 2022. This is a definite thumbs up!

[@anengineersfindings]

Many thanks for your kind words, Mr. Vines. I'll try to make more videos, but it's not easy to find the time. Many thanks for your interest.

[@joerogi8401]

Very interesting, clear and well presented. Thank you Sir. Subscribed and looking forward to the bell ringing.

[@hampfi747]

Awesome. The deburring tool looks very nice. If you use it by hand a rotating air coupling at the back might be handy to not have to untangle the airline all the time.

[@rickhaass1133]

very nice chamfer head.

[@iamtheomega]

love that cart, my MIG (mix) and TIG (argon) tanks are just strapped to table...

[@bambukouk]

Love the short taper gauge! I have lathe with DIN short taper and making chuck backplates is a bit of a pain This will help - thank you Just subscribed 👍

[@bigwave_dave8468]

Very cool tools! The holes on your welding cart reminded me of seeing equipment racks used by NASA for in-flight test equipment back when I was a boy in the 1970´s. These were made from aluminum with each hole dimpled or flanged to increase the stifness of the panels while keeping the weight very low. If you wanted a lighter weight configuration, you could do this and use your press-brake to make the dimples.

[@wktodd]

Nice tap driver :-) BTW rather than broach a square, you can mill a slot in the end the width of the flats .

[@anengineersfindings]

Good call, thanks for that hint Mr. Todd!

[@kooldoozer]

Nice Update. --Doozer

[@tetnum]

the name of the part transmitting the motion to the tap in the US at least is a Ball spline for those looking for them.

[@sblack48]

Very nice work. I would have liked to see how the friction clutch in the tap holder worked.

[@ydonl]

Alex! Welcome back! :). Thanks for this; I enjoyed it. I would be happy to have more details about the taper jig; I'm not quite sure of several details about how it's laid out, and what touches what, and how you measure a taper -- it seems like we saw a verification of a radius, but... there is more, yes? :). On all your other new toys, you gave more details -- we like that. :)

[@anengineersfindings]

Thanks for your good comment, I see I did not explain that tool properly. The gauge only tests the tapered bore's diameter at one defined depth so you can compare it to a master. Also, when machining the taper, the taper angle must me set exactly so the flange fits perfectly. I forgot to mention this in the video. You could include testing the taper angle by making two gauges, which test the bore at different depths. Three balls touch the flange face, the other two balls ride on the taper bore surface. You should choose a proper ball diameter so that the riding locations are roughly at the middle depth of the taper bore. This basically sets the indicator in a unique defined position in relation to the taper bore. Hope this helps.

[@SamEEE12]

Nice one! :-)

[@helldiablo8471]

Hello, could you share some inside views of the chamfering tool ? Im curious to see how you move the depth pin

[@than_vg]

Thanks for sharing Alex, great tools! (had a laugh with the 'cutouts saving fuel' and then I thought the joke went on with the backpack thing but it seems you mean it....things could get quite harsh there I understand...)

[@anengineersfindings]

;-)

[@nerddub]

would love to see a full breakdown of the chamfering tool, looks quite shmick

[@lohikarhu734]

those are, I believe, "recirculating ball bearings" for sliding along a shaft at low friction, without rotation.... interesting way to use them...

[@mpetersen6]

As long as works. That's what counts. One thing on your "new" 4 jaw. If you have tee slots at 45° to the jaws make up some jack screws that thread into the tee nuts. Using these if you are indicating either large diameter faces or longer stock you can move the stock in the jaws in a controlled manner rather than tapping it around with a dead blow hammer. For small taps in th mill generally I used a drill chuck with in a shopmade sensitive drill chuck and ran them in by hand. Larger taps would I would power tap. Blind holes I always finished by hand.

[@jimforsyth2.]

Happe to see a new video I was just on your channel looking to see if I wasn't getting notifications.

[@jpsimon206]

My first impression of your tap tool is that it is an overcomplicated variation of the typical sliding die holder for tail stocks that one sees all over. I have to say, I was terribly wrong! Absolute genius in eliminating unwanted forces. You're absolutely right about the variation between various machines, I've noticed the same even in two identical machines. This is a brilliant fix for the ever-present problem of small taps. I really like that it can be adjusted without additional tooling. Could the design theoretically be simplified to a single keyway for the sake of production? I think you have a real winner on your hands, this could easily be used in both the mill and the lathe. I have a particular appreciation for tooling with this capability. Congratulations! Really a brilliant design

[@jpsimon206]

One problem that occurs to me, I have not found it to be true that tap manufacturers stick to a standardized size. Even if they did, there are quite a few size square shanks to be found. What would be the fix? Perhaps a stair stepped piece to allow the square shank to find the deepest index point? The elegance of the tool is somewhat lost if the user has to swap out bushings for different size taps

[@rok1475]

An off the shelf ball spline assembly combined with Lisle LI70500 tap socket set could be a winner. The spline would only need to have a 1/4 square machined on one end and 3/8 on the other to be used with the Lisle set. I made something like this using a piece of Allen key as the slime and the long socket wrench as the outer race. It works and can be made by anyone in a home shop.

[@rok1475]

An off the shelf ball spline assembly combined with Lisle LI70500 tap socket set could be a winner. The spline would only need to have a 1/4 square machined on one end and 3/8 on the other to be used with the Lisle set. I made something like this using a piece of Allen key as the spline and a long socket wrench as the outer race. My mill has worm drive on the quill so I needed something to de-couple the axial move of the tap from the quill. It works and can be made by anyone in a home shop. Not as slick, though.

[@EitriBrokkr]

​@@rok1475any chance you could make a little video about it?

[@vibram500]

such awesome ideas here :O do you have drawings or breakdown of the tapping head please?

[@StripeyType]

former infantry - can confirm: usually slightly more than forty kilograms on my back. This does not include body armor or weapon system.

[@lrakschmidt2880]

So nice of you to take the time to share this with us. I understand the ball-spline assembly - but what did you use for the friction clutch?

[@benrivenbark]

The friction clutch can be set to transmit a limited amount of torque to protect either your small tap or delicate materials.

[@spencerr505]

Anyone know where I could get a similar friction clutch mechanism to this threading adapter. As I need to make a bunch of small tapped holes for a batch of thin plastic parts and I think I could adapt this tooling to work with my CNC. Just need to add a way to retract the tap holder between holes.

[@richharr]

Great job. Any chance theres a link for the friction clutch?

[@EitriBrokkr]

How does the clutch mechanism work in the tapping attachment?

[@car9167]

How is the pressure on those balls in the spline bushing adjusted? Did you removed the original bushing cover?

[@marianodiaz461]

Yeah but , how do you check that the taper is the right one? Wouldn’t it be better to make a gauge and use blue to check the taper and the gauge point?

[@jpsimon206]

The deburring tool is fantastic, do you think the design could be utilized on a less expensive pneumatic spindle? A nibbler comes to mind. I have the same hate for deburring, I use an old woodworking shaper next to the mill. A few years ago they started making very inexpensive carbide tipped router bits. I find that the fence setup is great for custom angles to your chamfering. It's a good cheap fix, but it does not do anything for the smaller harder to reach areas. A tool like this would be perfect but I cannot start with a Biax, What potential problems do you see from using a lower quality spindle?

[@anengineersfindings]

Using a more cheaper straight die grinder instead of the biax spindle should also work fine. A large spindle runout will result in a less good surface finish, though. I used that biax spindle since it has a cylindrical body, nice to clamp on. If you are using a die grinder, I guess you'd have to machine something similar into the housing.

[@jpsimon206]

@@anengineersfindings thank you very much for your thoughts

[@taranson3057]

Do you have plan’s available for the tapping friction clutch that you made. Think I could use a tool like that, I break more taps than I can really afford. If this tool works as well as you have stated, it would really be a money saver for me in my home shop.

[@anengineersfindings]

Thanks and sorry I didn't answer earlier. I'll try to make a set of plans as soon as I can find some time!

[@jpsimon206]

The first gauge that you showed for tapers, I don't know if I am missing some vital detail but it seems like that measures the roundness of the opening as opposed to the full depth of the taper? Can you explain this? I'm sure the error is in my understanding, I would like to understand this better.

[@milithemuffin4534]

It's more for measuring (actually comparing) diameter at set depth and getting full face+taper contact wich improves rigidity, just like big plus toolholders

[@sblack48]

The challenge with a spindle taper hole is that you need both the angle and diameter to be perfect so the taper is tight and the back of the chuck sits flat on the spindle flange with no slack. So this measures the diameter at a precise depth for comparing similar tapers. You still need a master taper to set the indicator to.

[@RB-yq7qv]

😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😍🤩

[@vincenzoromanello9739]

Alex. Where Our you? Please come with a new video. Please Thank you.

[@anengineersfindings]

Hello Vincenzo! Many thanks for your comment, I'm sorry to keep you waiting. I apologize, but currently I'm very busy with customer work. I hope to be able to upload a new video soon. Thanks for your viewership!

[@skipgoryews1356]

Hello have you talked to Elon Musk yet ? I think this is out of this world ! very nice job !

[@anengineersfindings]

Haha, very nice of you... ;)

[@thomasfischer6548]

Wieder mal irre was du so machst!! Bissi Zahnweh hab ich jetzt vom letzten Gerät. LG Tom