Tormach 8L Lathe with gang tooling

A quick part on the Tormach 8L lathe set up with gang tooling.

[@zeke064]

There is a gang tool option so it keeps going between tool changes. To my knowledge this is one of the first but I have seen a couple others set up with gang tooling. I am in the process of setting it up with an auto collet closer, pneumatic parts catcher, and 3ft bar feeder. It’ll be a little workhorse

[@sgmachine]

What's your plan for the collet closer? Looking to grab one of these soon.

[@zeke064]

I’ve been in contact with Donham here in Iowa and they have something that will work. I’ve also been in touch with Tormach and with an I/O board it’s doable but I’ll have to make a few add on’s in the G and M code.

[@andrewseguin6944]

@@zeke064 Do you have a update on the collet closer/ bar stock feeder?

[@daleksw]

Lovely to see this. Many thanks.

[@derekschipper8721]

holy cow a couple of those got reaaaaaly close

[@allieddesigncollc8377]

Hello, did you fabricate the gang tool holder and the t-slot base or are they available for purchase? Thanks

[@guitarchitectural]

Where did you buy that holder? I would love one for my cnc conversion! If you didnt buy, can you tell me the general specs/makeup of it?

[@HerschellHitchcock]

Can you post a speed and feed for tapping cycle?

[@jadonwilliams9399]

When the machine finishes one operation does is make you hit cycle start again before moving on? You’re the first person I’ve ever seen run gang tooling on this machine and I’m curious how the machine behaves because it thinks you need to “change tools”.

[@zeke064]

There is a gang tool option so it keeps going between tool changes. To my knowledge this is one of the first but I have seen a couple others set up with gang tooling. I am in the process of setting it up with an auto collet closer, pneumatic parts catcher, and 3ft bar feeder. It’ll be a little workhorse

[@HerschellHitchcock]

How do I get a gang tool set up for my 8l

[@zeke064]

You can either make your own or if there is a lot of interest I could make a small run of them.

[@hlopez2003]

@@zeke064 Id buy one. Let me know if you do, before I design my own lol

[@davecox900]

Do you think this machine could peck drill 55 mm deep and rigid tap 10mm

[@zeke064]

Yes, drilling that hole won’t be an issue. Tapping a hole that size could be a problem with how it’s set up from the factory but with a more ridged setup like with our gang tooling it should be a problem especially if you peck it like in this clip.

[@davecox900]

@@zeke064 Just placed the order on a new machine for the workshop like the gang tooling set up, how are you getting it to run from tool to tool does it not ask for a tool change ?

[@zeke064]

@@davecox900 that’s awesome, I’m sure your going to be very happy with it. In the setting on Pathpilot there is an option for manual tool change or gang tool.

[@GnosisMan50]

I've seem many videos of Tormach machinist but not one shows, set by step, how to program and set the tooling from start to finish. The university where I work has a new Pro slant lathe and my ability to use it is not as good as it should be even though I've been a machinist for many years. It's frustrating as hell that Tormach does not have online training courses. John Saunders offers classes but who can afford to go to Ohio to take them? Online video training would be the ideal solution but no one, it seems, is doing it. Had I known Tormach does not offer training, I would have told the Univ not to buy the machine. It's very upsetting.

[@tat2joeelliott]

@zeke06 you building that bar feeder? or did you buy one somewhere?

[@zeke064]

I'll be building it. It will basically be a 3-foot Pneumatic cylinder with a type of live center.

[@tat2joeelliott]

@@zeke064 are you gonna make a video of your build process?

[@rueuflecomte2539]

Prog is not optimized

[@zeke064]

Agreed

[@kevndo]

I would get rid of the first turning op with the cut off tool and just do the 2 back grooves . I think you could get a heavier cut with your turning tool. Looks pretty good other than that.